Double Diabetes -- Placing Your Kids at Even More Risk
In some medical circles it's called Type 3 Diabetes. Teenagers and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, if overweight or obese, can develop type 2 diabetes later in life. It's a double whammy and the medical consequences of such a diagnosis don't look good.
First, let's briefly cover the basics of diabetes.
Diabetes is Elevated Blood Glucose Levels
Higher than normal level of glucose in the blood is diabetes. Glucose is the main energy source for the brain and nerves and comes from digesting carbohydrates. Because of its importance as an energy source, glucose blood level is normally kept within a narrow range.
Two hormones help to keep glucose in this normal range. First, there is insulin. Insulin is released by the pancreas as glucose levels rise after a meal. It promotes the uptake of glucose by muscle cells. Second, is glucogon. This hormone causes the release of glucose out of energy stores during fasting. The insulin to glucogon ratio helps to stabilize the normal levels of blood glucose.
Two Types of Diabetes
In order to have consistently high blood glucose levels either insulin production and/or release from the pancreas is defective or the muscles don't respond to insulin when it is released.
Juvenile or Type 1 Diabetes -- Insulin production is defective. Most often detected early in life. These patients require insulin shots.
Adult Onset or Type 2 Diabetes -- The muscles don't respond to insulin. In this case, glucose stays within the blood and not in the tissues. The early stage is called Insulin Resistance. Type 2 is associated with being overweight or obese.
The Atypical Type of Diabetes -- Double Diabetes or Type 3
A young man who has type I diabetes, if he does not follow a proper diabetic diet and an exercise program, could develop type 2 diabetes on top of his type I diagnosis.
This is a fear turned into reality for many type I diabetics and their families. The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh states that 25% of children with type I diabetes are showing features of type 2. The main feature shared by all of these children...obesity. Dr. Dorothy Becker, a pediatric endocrinologist and leading double-diabetes researcher, feels the numbers will continue to climb.
And an ongoing study to determine the best treatment for children with type 2 diabetes is also uncovering many kids who harbor antibodies that signal they have or are developing the type 1 form.
No matter which type of diabetes came first in a child, it makes treatment that much harder for everyone involved. So what is the best treatment?
Treating Type 3 Diabetes
The best treatment for type 3 diabetes is prevention. Children, with or without diabetes, must exercise. Toning and building muscle tissue is the only effective way to protect against type 3 diabetes.
Strong muscles are metabolic active and able to uptake glucose as expected when insulin is released into the blood. Parents, start a supervised and doctor approved workout program with your children. Something tells me that we may need a strong future.
To Healthy Living!
Michael A. Smith, MD
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website
Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for the Diet Basics Website, a content rich weight loss site dedicated to the on-line dieter. Please visit his site at Diet Basics.
MORE RESOURCES:
 Bloomberg | FDA Okays Another Diabetes Combo Agent MedPage Today By Cole Petrochko, Associate Staff Writer, MedPage Today WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved an extended-release version of a combination sitagliptin and metformin (Janumet XR) for adults with type 2 diabetes. Approval was based on a bioequivalence ... FDA Approves Once-A-Day Drug for Type 2 Diabetes FDA Okays Merck's Janumet XR For Type 2 Diabetes - Update Merck Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates on Sales of Diabetes Medications |
 Family Practice News Digital Network | Distinguish Type 1 From Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Youth Family Practice News Digital Network New-onset type 1 diabetes in an obese youth cannot reliably be distinguished from pediatric type 2 diabetes on clinical grounds in this era of epidemic obesity. "The only way to distinguish obese type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes is to measure ... Phoenix Diabetes Lifestyle Coach and Endocrinologist Host Free, Informative ... All Natural Company True Healthy Products Now Offers Weight Loss And Fitness ... Over the Counter: Live healthier now and later |
Diabetes Takes Toll on Women's Hearing: Study iVillage Entertainment 3 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes is associated with hearing loss in women, especially if the blood sugar disease isn't well-controlled, new research indicates. The study, done by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, examined the medical records ... |
Doctors Health Press Supports Study Showing That Diabetes Could Boost the Risk ... Houston Chronicle The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters, books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a new study showing that diabetes, if not controlled well, ... |
 Zap2it.com (blog) | Weight loss is key in fighting type 2 diabetes San Francisco Chronicle Q: I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and am very confused about insulin resistance, and what carbohydrates I can and cannot eat. So much of what I read is contradictory. A: The first line of defense against type 2 diabetes is weight loss, ... A diabetic fiasco Paula Deen: Poster Child for Type 2 Diabetes and Excessive Sugar Consumption Paula Deen's diabetes drug: Should celebrities be endorsing pharmaceuticals? |
 TopNews United States | AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES NORTH CYPRESS MEDICAL CENTER DIABETES ... The Cypress Times Diabetes is a medical condition that causes a defect in the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. Insulin allows the body's blood sugar to be absorbed. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to serious health issues. Weight Loss Hold Aces in Combating Type 2 Diabetes |
Fundraisers for Bayville Boy With Type 1 Diabetes Planned Patch.com By Catherine Galioto and Patricia A. Miller One local boy's family is working to increase his support system to manage his Type 1 Diabetes, by adding a "Diabetes Awareness Dog" to the family. A series of local fundraisers will help raise the money ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Reuters By Kerry Grens | NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Fox News Print Email Share Comments Recommend Tweet People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a new ... |
 PsychCentral.com | Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Against Cognitive Decline in Diabetes PsychCentral.com By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Decaffeinated coffee seems to improve brain energy metabolism in association with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Glucose utilization in the brain is reduced in ... Memory Function - Decaffeinated Coffee May Help Decaf may help improve memory function Decaf Coffee Benefits the Brain |
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