Type I Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. Type I diabetes, often referred to as Juvenile Diabetes since it occurs early in life, involves the complete failure of the body to produce any insulin. It is caused by a haywire immune system that destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
The pancreas contains beta cells which make insulin, a hormone that helps cells take in the glucose (sugar) they need. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it causes two problems: It starves your cells for energy and it produces complications in small blood vessels, especially in the eyes, kidneys and heart.
Sometimes, the beta cells get wiped out and can not produce insulin anymore. Without insulin, glucose stays in the blood instead of going into cells. Insulin shots let your cells take in glucose. If you have Type I diabetes, you must take insulin to stay alive which is why it is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. Type I diabetes accounts for only about 5% to 10% of all diabetes.
A recent study reported in The Lancet discovered a link between Vitamin D supplementation and a decreased frequency of Juvenile Diabetes. Children who took at least 2000 IU of vitamin D daily had a rate ratio of 0.22 compared with those who regularly received less. Also children who were suspected of having rickets during the first year of life had a rate ratio of 3.0 for diabetes mellitus compared with those without suspicion of rickets. The conclusion of the study was: "Ensuring that infants receive adequate amounts of vitamin D may help reverse the increasing trend of Type I diabetes mellitus." [Lancet:11/3/01;358:1500-1503]
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough, or properly use, insulin. It has historically been referred to as adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes and is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% to 95% of all diabetics. It develops over a longer period of time and is generally diagnosed in adulthood, hence the name.
Type II causes one's pancreas to shift into overdrive, sending out spikes of insulin in a fear-stricken attempt to try keeping up with ever-rising levels of blood glucose. Eventually, the pancreas may give up trying to manage glucose control, and the unfortunate result is dangerously-high glucose levels in the face of insulin breakdowns.
Type II begins when it takes higher and higher amounts of insulin for the cells to open up and let blood sugar in. This resistance generally continues undetected for years, since the pancreas is usually able to compensate by producing ever-increasing amounts of insulin. After a time, however, one of two things happens.
Either the quality of insulin lessens and eventually the pancreatic cells start losing their ability to produce it or the cells resist using insulin while their pancreas keeps producing more and more. This excess insulin helps set the stage for high blood pressure and poor cholesterol levels thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications.
The recently published UR Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) suggests that before most patients are actually diagnosed with type II diabetes, the pancreas has lost its ability to properly control post-meal blood sugar levels for over eight years and insulin resistance has been present for up to 12 years. Until recently, the earliest Type II diabetes was seen in those in their 40s or older. But in the last few years, an alarming number of children have been diagnosed with type II diabetes. Type II is appearing more frequently in pre-pubescent children, and has even been documented in children as young as four years old. (American Diabetes Foundation)
According to Endocrinologist Gerald Bernstein of Beth Israel Hospital in New York and past president of the American Diabetes Association, "Twenty years ago, only 2% of children diagnosed with diabetes had Type II. Today it accounts for 30% to 50% of new diagnoses among children ages 9 to 19."
Currently, one in every five American kids is obese. And since obesity is directly linked to diabetes, the target market for diabetic pharmaceuticals now extends clear down to four year olds. Adult-onset diabetes has increased between 600% and 1000% in the last 60 years. It is currently increasing at a rate of 6% a year, and that is expected to accelerate. According to Dr. Emily Senay on CBS news, from 1990 to 1998, Type II diabetes increased 70% in 30 year olds.
According to Bernard B. Tulsi, a writer for Technology Investor who did a piece in the January 2001 issue on diabetes called "The Perfect Disease" (of course he meant from a business perspective), "diabetes is one of the most costly health problems in the US -- with an annual tab of more than $100 billion and growing. Diabetes drugs, the fastest growing category, cost $3.5 billion a year... then there are diagnostic systems, delivery systems, needles, etc." He maintains that 2200 new diabetics are diagnosed every day and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates 798,000 people will be diagnosed this year.
"This disease accounts for one out of every 10 healthcare dollars," says Dr. Zachary Bloomgarden, associate clinical professor at Mount Sinai Medical School. The ADA reports 10.3 million diabetics have been diagnosed, but an additional 5.4 million people don't know they have it and when they find out they will be faced with spending $2500 to $3000 a year on needles, insulin and blood testing strips.
The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 1997 was $98 billion. That included $44 billion in medical costs. The other $54 billion is the indirect costs of disability and mortality.
Prognosis
Most doctors fail to tell their patients that, even if they use the best conventional therapies available, type II diabetes will only get progressively worse. Getting worse slowly is not the same as getting better. When you look at the current treatment programs, this shouldn't come as any surprise.
Log in to read the rest of this article addressing the related topics below:
- Current Treatment Programs
- Hypoglycemia
- Side Effects of Diabetes drugs
- Diabetes Statistics
- Diabetic Medications Discussed
- Stemming the Tide
- What About Fat
- Eating Habits
- Chocolate
- Research for Chocoholics
