Know Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, What’s the Difference?

KOMPAS.com – Diabetes is a health problem related to blood sugar, has been found in Indonesia.

This chronic disease is characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucose is the main source of energy for the cells of the human body.

Glucose that accumulates in the blood due to not being absorbed by the body’s cells properly can cause various disorders of the body’s organs.

Also read: Indonesia is ranked 5th in the country with the largest diabetes sufferers in the world

Meanwhile, blood sugar levels are controlled by the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas.

In people with diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce insulin according to the body’s needs. Without insulin, the body’s cells cannot absorb and process glucose into energy.

If diabetes is not controlled properly, various complications can arise that endanger the patient’s life.

There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 diabetes and type 2. What’s the difference?

Launch Live ScienceType 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that make the hormone insulin.

This results in the body’s inability to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar under control.

Insulin is essential for glucose metabolism. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, which over time can lead to complications.

According to National Library of MedicineHowever, scientists think genetics and environmental factors such as exposure to viruses can cause the body to mistakenly attack the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

Some of the known risk factors include a family history of type 1 diabetes, the presence of certain genes, and geography.

Cases of the disease are higher in areas farther from the equator, possibly due to UV radiation and vitamin D deficiency.

Also read: Worryingly, Type 1 Diabetes Rates in Children and Adolescents in Indonesia Continues to Increase

Symptoms of diabetes type 1

Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, hunger and urination, blurred vision, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

Sometimes, an early sign of this type of diabetes is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), with symptoms including bad breath, dry or flushed skin, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, and inability to concentrate.

DKA occurs when the body cannot use sugar for energy, so it turns into fat.

This results in the release of ketones, which make the blood acidic and can be toxic. If left untreated, DKA can be deadly.

Over time, uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetics can lead to a number of complications that affect major organs, leading to serious problems such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and kidney failure.

Diabetes treatment type 1

Type 1 diabetes patients require insulin therapy to regulate daily blood sugar. Insulin is given by injection, not in the form of oral medication.

Meanwhile, in severe cases, doctors may recommend transplant surgery or a pancreas transplant to replace the damaged pancreas.

Type 1 diabetes patients who successfully undergo the operation no longer require insulin therapy, but must take immunosuppressive drugs on a regular basis.

Also read: Study: Low Diabetes and Obesity Rates in Pedestrian Friendly Cities

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