The doctor who undertook to do medical education online explains on his official social media account first what the difference is between the two types of diabetes, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, in order to better understand the disease and be able to control it.
“When you have diabetes, your body can’t regulate your blood sugar (glucose) well. This is either because your pancreas has stopped producing enough insulin or because your cells have become insulin resistant – or both, ”explains your doctor. Insulin is the hormone responsible for the movement of sugar from the bloodstream into the cells, and if this whole process does not proceed normally, symptoms may appear that can range from a feeling of lethargy and thirst to more serious complications such as nerve damage, stroke or heart disease, the doctor explains.
There are differences between type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, which can be more easily controlled.
“Type 1: The body’s immune system begins to attack insulin-producing cells, and eventually production stops. People with type 1 diabetes need daily insulin injections or an insulin pump.
Type 2: The body can still produce insulin, but the cells resist it. Sometimes the body does not make enough insulin. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are overweight and have a family history of diabetes, ”the doctor warns.
What about “You Can Get Diabetes If You Eat Too Much Sugar”
Doctor Vasi Rădulescu admits that the answer is “a bit complicated”, because again we have to consider what type of diabetes we are talking about. It is true that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, but a messy lifestyle and poor food choices that we make constantly can “help” us to get type 2 diabetes instead.
“You don’t get type 1 diabetes because you made bad food choices. It is an autoimmune disorder. And even if you eat even a big bag of candy just once, it won’t give you type 2 diabetes.
But over time, an unhealthy diet and obesity can contribute to type 2 diabetes. In fact, diet and exercise may be enough to control type 2 diabetes in its early stages. Losing even a small percentage of weight can begin to have a positive effect on how your body manages insulin, ”says the doctor.
New blood glucose testing options
Another myth discussed by Dr. Vasi Radulescu is that “people with diabetes sting their fingers all the time.” This is still necessary if diabetics use drugs that require blood glucose testing, and this is done with “finger prick” glucometers, which are still popular, says the doctor. In the meantime, however, new technologies have emerged, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which do not require a blood sample and are introduced under the skin.
Another myth is about the “special foods” diabetics need. However, there may be a lot of marketing in the middle, as people with diabetes do not necessarily need “diabetes-friendly” foods, which are not only expensive, but can actually raise blood sugar levels, but healthy foods. This latest list includes starch-free vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, heart-healthy fats and whole fruits, which are “the same nutritious foods that everyone should eat,” says the doctor.
Diabetes may or may not be cured
In this regard, the doctor is adamant: “There is no cure for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, only ways to control it. However, if diagnosed early and managed well enough, type 2 diabetes can go into remission. And that can take a long time. “
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