1. Types of Diabetes

what is diabetes?

a group of long-term diseases that cause hyperglycemia because the body does not make insulin right, use insulin right, or both

what is insulin?

a hormone made by the pancreatic beta cells

• acts like a key to let glucose into cells and lower blood glucose

what are the main classifications of diabetes?

• type 1 diabetes

• type 2 diabetes

• gestational diabetes

• diabetes associated with other conditions or syndromes

what is type 1 diabetes?

diabetes caused by autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells

• leads to little or no insulin production

what happens to insulin production in type 1 diabetes?

insulin production decreases or completely stops because the beta cells are destroyed

what kind of insulin does a person with type 1 diabetes need?

exogenous insuli (insulin from outside the body/meds)

what kind of hyperglycemia happens in type 1 diabetes even when the person is not eating?

fasting hyperglycemia

• too much sugar because theres nothing to stop it from rising

why does type 1 diabetes cause fasting hyperglycemia?

decreased insulin lets the liver keep making glucose

what kind of hyperglycemia happens in type 1 diabetes after meals?

postprandial hyperglycemia

why does type 1 diabetes cause postprandial hyperglycemia?

glucose from food cannot be stored in the liver, so it stays in the bloodstream

glycogenolysis

breaking down stored glycogen to raise blood glucose

gluconeogenesis

making new glucose from noncarbohydrate sources like fats and amino acids

why do glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis worsen type 1 diabetes?

without enough insulin to stop them, they keep raising blood glucose

what are ketone bodies?

highly acidic substances made when the body breaks down fat because insulin is not available

why can type 1 diabetes lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?

without enough insulin, fat breakdown produces ketone bodies and makes the blood acidic

• our blood is usually slightly alkaline

• acidic blood = death

what is type 2 diabetes?

a non-autoimmune form of diabetes caused by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion

what are the 2 main problems in type 2 diabetes?

1. insulin resistance

2. impaired insulin secretion

what is insulin resistance?

decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin

• cells do not take in sugar even when insulin tries to trigger it

what is impaired insulin secretion?

the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep up with the body’s needs

how does type 2 diabetes develop?

the body tries to make more insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but type 2 diabetes develops when the beta cells can no longer keep up

how does type 2 diabetes usually present?

it develops slowly and may go undetected for years

• long-term complications may already be present at diagnosis

what is gestational diabetes?

diabetes that starts during pregnancy

• placental hormones inhibit insulin

after gestational diabetes, what happens to mom and baby?

both are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes later