Causes of type 1 diabetes – Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness) mistakes the cells in your pancreas as harmful and attacks them. Without insulin, your body will break down its own fat and muscle, resulting in weight loss.
This can lead to a serious short-term condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This is when the bloodstream becomes acidic, you develop dangerous levels of ketones in your blood stream and become severely dehydrated, This results in the body being unable to produce insulin, which is required to move glucose out of the blood and into your cells to be used for energy.
This is called Type 1 diabetes. Read more about the causes of type 1 diabetes
Which diabetes does not use insulin?
This form of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age. In type 2 diabetes (which used to be called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes) the body produces insulin, but the cells don’t respond to insulin the way they should.
Can you have type 1 diabetes and not take insulin?
Managing Diabetes – Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly by you, with support from your health care team:
Primary care doctor Foot doctor Dentist Eye doctor Registered dietitian nutritionist Diabetes educator Pharmacist
Also ask your family, teachers, and other important people in your life for help and support. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but everything you do to improve your health is worth it! If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin shots (or wear an insulin pump) every day.
- Insulin is needed to manage your blood sugar levels and give your body energy.
- You can’t take insulin as a pill.
- That’s because the acid in your stomach would destroy it before it could get into your bloodstream.
- Your doctor will work with you to figure out the most effective type and dosage of insulin for you.
You’ll also need to do regular blood sugar checks, Ask your doctor how often you should check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be. Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible will help you prevent or delay diabetes-related complications,
- Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder.
- Both managing your blood sugar levels and dealing with daily diabetes care can be tougher to do.
- Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and exercises to relax can help.
- Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about these and other ways you can manage stress.
Healthy lifestyle habits are really important too:
Making healthy food choices Being physically active Controlling your blood pressure Controlling your cholesterol
Make regular appointments with your health care team. They’ll help you stay on track with your treatment plan and offer new ideas and strategies if needed.
Why do type 2 diabetics not take insulin?
People with type 2 diabetes do not always have to take insulin right away; that is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. The longer someone has type 2 diabetes, the more likely they will require insulin. Just as in type 1 diabetes, insulin is a way to control your blood glucose level.
Can you have type 2 diabetes and not take insulin?
Why Insulin Can Become Necessary for a Person with Type 2 Diabetes | Diabète Québec Starting insulin treatment should not be seen as a setback. People with type 2 diabetes may require insulin when their meal plan, weight loss, exercise and antidiabetic drugs do not achieve targeted blood glucose (sugar) levels.
Diabetes is a progressive disease and the body may require insulin injections to compensate for declining insulin production by the pancreas. That is why starting insulin treatment should never be seen as a failure. Starting insulin treatment should never be seen as a failure. Treatment with insulin may be added to an antidiabetic medication or completely replace it.
Regardless of the treatment, lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, stress management) are essential to managing diabetes. Many people are reluctant to inject insulin for various reasons:
Fear of pain or needles Guilt Impression that this is the “last resort” Fear of hypoglycemic attacks Fear of weight gain Memories of loved one who had to take insulin
If this is the case, do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with a health care professional. Some of your fears may be due to false beliefs. Learning more about today’s insulin treatment will probably allay your fears. For many people, insulin is an effective way to achieve good blood-sugar control, which can prevent or delay certain diabetes complications over the long term.
- Every person with diabetes being treated with insulin should be trained by a health care professional.
- This training should include the different injection steps, as well as the treatment and prevention of hypoglycemia, which can occur in anyone on insulin.
- Research and text: Cynthia Chaput, Dietitian Scientific review: Louise Tremblay, Nurse.M.
Ed. June 2014 – Revised May 2016 : Why Insulin Can Become Necessary for a Person with Type 2 Diabetes | Diabète Québec
Which diabetes is reversible?
What happens if you dont treat your Diabetes? – Dr. Anantharaman Ramakrishnan
We don’t call it diabetes reversal, because this might sound like it’s permanent, and there’s no guarantee that your diabetes has gone forever. – But yes, it may be possible to put your type 2 diabetes into remission, This is when your blood sugar levels are below the diabetes range and you don’t need to take diabetes medication anymore. This could be life-changing.
Do both type 1 and type 2 diabetics take insulin?
Insulin is required for people with type 1 diabetes and sometimes necessary for people with type 2 diabetes. Syringe is the most common form of insulin delivery, but there are other options, including insulin pens and pumps. Insulin should be injected in the same general area of the body for consistency, but not the exact same place. Insulin delivery should be timed with meals to effectively process the glucose entering your system.