12 Things You Didn’t Know About Diabetes

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5. Type 1 Diabetes Has Nothing to Do with Sugar

Most people do not realize that there is a type of diabetes that has nothing to do with eating too much sugar. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease because the cells which produce insulin are being destroyed by your own immune system. Scientists do not understand why this is, but they believe that something sets off an autoimmune attack. Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age, but occurs most often in those under 40. For those who have type 1 diabetes, insulin shots are necessary for their survival.

6. More and More Young People Are Developing Type 2 Diabetes

Most people believe that type 2 diabetes is something that happens to older people, and for the most part, this is true. There is a strong genetic link but diabetes most often occurs due to lifestyle factors such as being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, eating an unhealthy diet with too much sugar, and having the classic “apple” body, where extra weight is carried around the midsection. Unfortunately, more and more persons under the age of 40 are being diagnosed with this disease.

7. Once You Have Diabetes, the Impact is Relentless

If you develop diabetes, you will have to carry out self-management tasks and checks every single day, such as checking blood sugar levels, counting carbs, and consuming medications or receiving injections. This is not something that you can “forget about” for the weekend or when you go on vacation. Forgetting that you have diabetes can lead to things like kidney failure, heart attacks, nerve damage, and blindness.

8. Every Aspect of Life Affects Your Blood Sugar

Somedays, it might feel as if you are on a rollercoaster that you cannot stop. Everything seems to affect your blood sugar levels: Stress, hormones, every bite you put in your mouth, exercise (or the lack of it) and sleep. It can be difficult to control your blood sugar at times and this can leave you feeling isolated, unpredictable, and scary.

9. There is an Increased Risk of Depression

As if dealing with diabetes is not enough, studies show that those with diabetes have double the risk of developing depression as the rest of the population. Even family members of those who have diabetes suffer from this increased risk. This is because attempting to manage an unmanageable disease is a stressful situation.

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