A few weeks ago I posted 7 common questions about Type 2 Diabetes and today we are going to answer questions about Diabetes in general.

1. What is the difference between the types of diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes = no insulin produced by the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually found in young people and children however it can occur in mature aged people. These people are usually not overweight and account for 10% of people with diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes = in this form of diabetes the pancreas is producing insulin however it may be insufficient in quantity or the insulin itself is not working effectively at the cell site (insulin resistance).
This form of diabetes is directly linked to a change of lifestyle in the last 20-30years as the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide for a number of reasons:
• Population ageing and growth
• Increasing trends towards obesity
• Unhealthy diets
• Sedentary lifestyles

2. Can a Type 2 diabetic become a Type 1?
No. In Type 1 diabetes there is no insulin production whereas in type 2 diabetes the pancreas is producing some insulin.
Sometimes, people with type 2 diabetes who are either not tolerating their diabetes tablets or who despite their oral tablets are still not controlling the blood glucose levels well may require insulin. They are called Type 2 Diabetes Requiring Insulin.

3. Does Type 2 requiring insulin become a Type 1?
No, as the pancreas is still producing insulin. In Type 1 diabetes the pancreas has stopped producing insulin altogether, whereas in type 2 diabetes some insulin is being produced.

4. What is ‘borderline’ diabetes?
“Borderline diabetes”, may also be known as Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose. These two conditions are sometimes called Pre- Diabetes.

This condition is an early warning indicator that you are at a higher risk of developing diabetes within the next two years.
By making adjustments to what you eat and increasing your levels of physical activity you can delay the onset on diabetes.

5. Is there a blood test that my doctor orders which will tell him if I my pancreas is producing insulin?
Yes. A blood test is run to indicate the level of insulin production.

6. My relative does not have diabetes but has low blood glucose levels (+/-symptoms) What does this mean?
Hypoglycaemia is the term used for low blood glucose levels. People on diabetes medication (tablets / insulin) to help them manage their diabetes are at risk of ‘hypos’ which can be serious if not treated promptly as they are under the influence of their diabetes medication.
Sometimes people who do not have a history of diabetes may develop symptoms of hypoglycaemia (hunger, sweating, trembling) if they go for long gaps between meals. This may also be called ‘reactionary hypoglycaemia’ and is reversed by their ‘hormonal system’ sending in what is called ‘counter-regulatory hormones’.

7. What is the link between stress and diabetes?
When we are under stress (eg illness or work related) our body copes through a natural response called the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is a hormonal mechanism whereby the ‘fight or flight ‘hormones are released during stress. In turn these hormones :
• reduce the production of insulin
• elevated production of glucose from the liver
• Prevent the muscles from taking up that extra glucose
• Over time, this will cause blood glucose levels to rise

8. Are sugar and glucose the same thing?
Sugar: aka sucrose (the type we put in our tea or coffee) does not cause diabetes. However if we consume large amounts of sweets / cool drinks over time we will put on weight which in turn will prevent the insulin from working properly and hence the blood glucose levels will rise.
Glucose: Is the fuel that our body requires for metabolism*. We derive most of this fuel from the carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, certain vegetables) that we consume in our daily diet.

*Metabolism – Once foods have been ingested, there follows a large number of biochemical reactions in the body, this is referred to as metabolism.

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