What type of diabetes do you have? It may not seem important at first glance, but each type requires slightly different treatments and approaches.
Dr. Farah Khan and our team of experts at Millennium Park Medical Associates in Greenwood Village, Colorado, we help patients manage their diabetes, no matter which type they’re dealing with. Here’s a closer look at the differences between the four variations of diabetes and diabetes cure you can rely on to help you thrive despite your condition.
Type 1 diabetes
You may have heard of some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, but you may not realize that type 1 diabetes is one of them. With an autoimmune disease, your body can’t tell the difference between normal cells and foreign invaders, so it attacks itself and destroys healthy tissue — in this case, the cells in your pancreas that make the hormone called insulin. You need insulin to enable sugar to enter your cells and be used for energy.
Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children, which is why it’s also known as juvenile diabetes. It’s a chronic condition with no cure, and it’s believed to be caused by genetic, viral, or environmental factors. Only about 10% of people with diabetes have this type.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes means that your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, so you need to take insulin. Dr. Khan guides you through the details of your treatments, which typically fall into one of two categories: insulin injections or an insulin pump that delivers measured doses of insulin into your system throughout the day.
You can expect to monitor your blood sugar frequently and watch your diet for the rest of your life.
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