Diabetes what type do i have

Type 2 is more common. Both keep the body from creating and using the hormone insulin effectively. Insulin enables the body to process sugar in the blood and make sure that it stays at a healthy level. If levels of blood sugar, or glucose, get too high, it can damage cells and cause complications throughout the body.

According to the American Diabetes Association , Among them, nearly 1. Meanwhile, they estimate that another 7. And in , they report, about 88 million people had prediabetes — high blood sugar levels indicating that a person is at risk of diabetes. Being able to identify early symptoms of diabetes can help a person know when to seek care. Receiving a diagnosis and treatment early can prevent long-term damage. Some signs and symptoms of diabetes that common to both types include:.

It is worth noting that factors such as age and overall health can affect how a person experiences these symptoms. This condition usually arises during childhood, but it can appear at any age. A person should see a doctor if they develop :.

Many people only learn that they have type 2 diabetes during a routine checkup. Others see doctors about symptoms of the condition or its complications.

Symptoms of diabetes-related complications include :. The sooner a person with diabetes receives a diagnosis, the sooner they can start treatment, which focuses on regulating blood sugar levels. Hyperglycemia is the medical name for high blood sugar levels. Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is an acute condition in which substances called ketones accumulate in the body.

Ketones are a byproduct that forms when the body breaks down fat for fuel. The exact cause is not known, but it's probably a combination of the genes a person is born with and something in the environment that triggers the genes to become active.

In type 2 diabetes, at least in the early stages, there is enough insulin, but the body becomes resistant to it. Usually, type 1 diabetes in diagnosed in childhood, while type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed after age But these aren't hard-and-fast rules.

People are getting type 2 diabetes at increasingly younger ages and more adults are getting type 1 diabetes, says Shannon Knapp, RN, CDE, a diabetes educator at the Cleveland Clinic, highlighting the need for diabetes prevention at all ages.

People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, and as a result sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, where it's needed for energy. In type 1 diabetes, high blood sugar causes symptoms like thirst, hunger, and fatigue and can cause devastating consequences, including damage to the nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs. The same scary complications of diabetes appear in type 2 as well. The difference is that people with type 2 diabetes still produce insulin; their bodies just become less sensitive to it over time, which is what causes the complications.

The first symptoms of type 1 diabetes appear when blood sugar gets too high. Symptoms include thirst, hunger, fatigue, frequent urination , weight loss, tingling or numbness in the feet, and blurred vision.

Very high blood sugar can cause rapid breathing, dry skin , fruity breath, and nausea. Early symptoms include frequent infections, fatigue, frequent urination, thirst, hunger, blurred vision, erectile dysfunction in men, and pain or numbness in the hands or feet. Drincic notes that "symptoms of type 2 diabetes don't start as suddenly as symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Blood tests used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes include fasting blood sugar , a hemoglobin A1C test , and a glucose tolerance test. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly.

You can help manage type 2 diabetes through healthy eating, regular exercise and achieving a healthy body weight. If you're diagnosed with diabetes, you'll need to eat healthily , take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced. You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to check whether you're a healthy weight. You can find apps and tools to help you manage your diabetes and have a healthier lifestyle in the NHS Apps Library.

People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes also require regular insulin injections for the rest of their life. As type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, medicine may eventually be required, usually in the form of tablets.

Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year.