bloodstream. This is one of the key ways that it differs from type one diabetes.
Some things that increase your chances of developing type two diabetes include:
- having a family history of type two diabetes
- being overweight or obese
- not exercising regularly
- lack of vitamin D
Certain medication has also been linked to increased chances of developing type two diabetes. This includes some anti-seizure medication and HIV treatment medication.
Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy. This is because their bodies struggle to make enough insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels. This is also known as gestational diabetes and often occurs during the later stages of pregnancy.
You can find out more about handling diabetes during pregnancy here.
Before a person develops type two diabetes they will experience prediabetes. This usually takes five years to develop into type two diabetes. During this time you may be able to make lifestyle adjustments to stop diabetes in its tracks.
But in order to treat your diabetes, you first need a diagnosis. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of type one and two diabetes.
Symptoms of Type One and Two Diabetes
A lot of the symptoms of type one and two diabetes are very similar.
People with diabetes often experience an unexplained increase in thirst and appetite. They’ll also start urinating more.
In spite of higher blood sugar levels, you may start to notice that you’re feeling more tired than normal. Or you may find yourself exhausted after simple tasks that you had no difficulty with before.
Type one and two diabetes can also cause blurred vision and numbness or tingling in your hands and feet. You may also start to notice broken patches or skin that take longer to heal than normal.
Diabetes also causes weight loss that is unexpected or that you can’t explain. This is often sudden and dramatic. It can also be confusing if you’ve experienced an increased appetite.
However, one of the big differences in the symptoms of diabetes is who they affect and how long it takes them to develop.
People with type one diabetes often have a body mass index or BMI within the healthy range. This is from 19 to 24.9. In contrast, people who develop type two diabetes have a BMI of 25 and over.
The symptoms of type one diabetes also develop very rapidly over time. They will happen over a couple of weeks so it’s important to get on top of them as soon as possible.
The weight loss can be so extreme during this time that it results in hospitalization. In fact, that’s exactly how Nick Jonas found out that he had type one diabetes at the age of thirteen!
The symptoms of type two diabetes can be onset for a much longer period of time before they reach their peak. This can take several years rather than weeks or months.
Diagnosing Type One vs. Type Two Diabetes
The initial tests for type one and two diabetes are the same. These all focus on testing your blood sugar levels. These include:
- Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) tests, which will indicate your blood sugar levels for the last two or three months
- Random blood sugar tests, which can be taken at anytime
- Fasting blood sugar tests, which are taken after you’ve fasted overnight
- Oral glucose tolerance tests, which test how your body responds to sugar after a night fasting
If doctors suspect that you have type one diabetes they will run further tests. This involves testing your urine and testing your immune system. This will reveal whether or not your body is processing glucose properly or not and why.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
After you’ve been diagnosed with either type of diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. This means that you can always stay on top of your treatment and have time to seek medical help if you need it.
People with type one diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels more regularly than people with stable type two diabetes. If you have type one diabetes, you should do this six or seven times a day. If you have had your diabetes under control for a while you may be able to reduce this to four