What Is Diabetes?

Dollars vs. Fat & Sugar -- How Diabetes, Obesity, and Food Prices are Linked
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Diabetes is a complex disease and there are multiple forms. The two most common types of diabetes that we are aware of are Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is the form of diabetes where the beta cells that make insulin are destroyed. This form requires that you take insulin in order to survive. It’s usually autoimmune in origin in that your own immune system, which is normally designed to protect you from infections, mistakes the beta cells as foreign and destroys them. It’s more common in children and young adults and comprises about 10% of all forms of diabetes. Its prevalence is increasing slightly, but not as much as Type 2.

Type 2 diabetes is more complex to understand. It is due to an abnormality in insulin action initially as well as in insulin secretion. It’s more common in families. Its prevalence is increasing in epidemic proportions all over the world and is primarily linked to obesity and lack of physical exercise. As the world becomes larger more primarily in visceral fats, the fat cells themselves produce excessive amounts of fat because they can’t store it anymore. They also release inflammatory chemicals, which then circulate in the blood and interfere with the action of insulin, the liver, muscles, and the ability of the pancreas to release insulin when you need it.

Source: Dr. Frank Schwarz
Director of the Appalachian Rural Health Institute Diabetes Center
Associate Professor of Endocrinology at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

For a person to identify if he or (s)he is diabetic or pre-diabetic, (s)he needs to have blood work done to measure fasting blood sugar. If levels range between 101 to 125 mg/dl (milligram per deciliter), (s)he are pre-diabetic.

Source: Karen Bailey
Dietician in the Appalachian Rural Health Institute Diabetes Center


More on the topic on my blog:

Not All Fats Are Equal -- Dr. Darleen Berryman, Ohio University, on the Causes of the Obesity Epidemic and New Research Paths (extended video Interview)

The Greatest Barriers Are Economic -- Dr. Frank Schwartz, Ohio University, on the Struggles of His Diabetes Patients (extended video interview part 1)

Soft Spot Health Care -- A U.S.-European Dialogue with Dr. Frank Schwartz, Ohio University (extended video interview part 2)

Counting Carbs for the First Time – Karen Bailey, OU Dietician, Helps Obese Diabetics Lose Weight (audio slide show with extended interview)

Info box: Where Does the BMI Come From?
Info box: What Is Food Insecurity?
Info box: How Much Food Is Enough?