Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas stops producing insulin, which is a hormone that controls blood-sugar levels, and requires constant and careful management. People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin shots for the rest of their life, carefully balancing their intake with eating, exercising and other activities in addition to measuring their blood-sugar levels through finger pricks or by wearing a glucose monitor.
- Type 1 diabetes affects children and adults.
- This disease occurs quickly and must be managed with the use of insulin.
- Currently, there is no known cure for Type 1 diabetes and ti cannot be prevented.
Warning signs of Type 1 diabetes can appear suddenly and may include:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry
- Vomiting
- Stomach pains
- Sudden weight loss
- Sudden vision changes (Blurry vision)
- Urinating (peeing) a lot, or more than usual
- Feeling very tired or find it difficult to move and do daily tasks
Type 1 diabetes can be life threatening and it never goes away. If you have experienced any of these warning signs, it's best to be safe and talk to a doctor or healthcare provider. The Diabetes Clinic at Parkland offers diabetes care for patients both in the hospital and in clinics. Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes can be a tough condition to accept, but you are not alone. Your healthcare provider, nurse, dietitian, pharmacist and behavioral therapist at Parkland are there to help you, providing one-on-one meetings for treatment plans made especially for you.
For more information, updates on care or questions about your treatment plan, please contact the Diabetes Clinic at 214-590-7267.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and occurs when your pancreas produces insulin but your body cannot use it very well. At the onset of this disease, your pancreas will create extra insulin to make up for it, but over time, won't be able to create enough insulin to keep your blood sugar levels normal.
- Type 2 diabetes can occur in people of all ages and can go unnoticed for a long time.
- This disease can be prevented or controlled with healthy eating, exercising, medication (pills) and insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes, if not treated and managed properly, usually gets worse over time.
You may be more at risk for Type 2 diabetes if you:
- are overweight
- smoke
- have high blood pressure
- are not active
- have high cholesterol
- eat poorly
- have a family history of diabetes
Warning signs of Type 2 diabetes may include:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry
- Weight loss
- Blurry vision
- Urinating (peeing) a lot, or more than usual
- Feeling very tired or find it difficult to move and do daily tasks
If you've experienced any of these warnings signs and are concerned about your health, talk to a doctor or healthcare provider. The best way to find out if you have Type 2 diabetes is by a simple blood test.
If you're not sure, you can also take a Type 2 diabetes risk assessment test.