Types

• Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes because it most commonly appears in teenagers and children, but sometimes occurs in young adults as well. This type of diabetes is insulin dependent, because the pancreas no longer produces insulin on its own. The symptoms are obvious and severe, presenting over months or even weeks. They include dry skin, excessive thirst and urination, abnormal hunger and fatigue.
  
  

Identification

• Type 2 diabetes usually appears in adults over age 40 and is typically treated by a strict low-carbohydrate diet and an exercise program. Sometimes insulin or other medication is required, if only on a temporary basis. The disease occurs when the body's cells develop a resistance to insulin, most commonly because of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, but sometimes for no apparent reason. People can have type 2 diabetes for months or even years without knowing it, because early symptoms are so mild, and may include nothing more than dry skin or some rashes. Type 2 often is diagnosed during a routine blood test showing abnormally-high blood sugar.
  
  

Effects

• In type 2 diabetes, a person may notice itchy, flaky skin for years, but assume she simply is prone to dry skin. Skin sores might be slow to heal. Diabetes also can cause bladder or yeast infections. As type 2 diabetes progresses, it can cause blurry vision because of the fluctuation in glucose levels. The diabetic may begin to lose weight despite no change in lifestyle, and feel a general malaise. Eventually the symptom of frequent urination occurs, where the body is working to eliminate excess sugar from the blood. This causes the diabetic to become dehydrated and feel thirsty much of the time. At this point the person may finally realize something is wrong and see a doctor.
  
  

Considerations

• The doctor will administer a fasting blood test, which requires testing in the morning before eating anything. A result showing blood sugar of between 100 and 125 may indicate a condition called prediabetes, where the person can halt the progress toward type 2 diabetes with strict diet changes and exercise. A reading of 125 or higher indicates the person already has diabetes. For both these results, two tests on two different days will be advised. If the blood sugar level is approaching 200, the physician will probably prescribe medication to immediately bring the level down.
  
  

Warning

• Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being over 45 years old, being overweight, not exercising regularly, having close relatives with the disease, and having gestational diabetes while pregnant. Type 2 traditionally was called adult-onset diabetes because it was very rare in children, but this condition has been increasing in children because of obesity and lack of exercise.