User blog:Acebatonfan/November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Hello! As what many of you know, I was diagnosed approximately a year ago with type 1 diabetes and have also recently experienced a close relative being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In addition to my "diaversary" rapidly approaching, November has been designated in the US as diabetes awareness month, and November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Each week, I plan on informing the wiki about different aspects of diabetes and ways people can help to fund a cure to diabetes.

Week 1: What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic and affects nearly 30 million adults and children in the United States alone. There are three main types of diabetes, though each type has different disorders within them.

Type 1 diabetes occurs due to an autoimmune destruction of the pancreas' beta cells. Beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin, a critical enzyme necessary for glucose metabolism. When there is no insulin, glucose, a form of sugar, builds up in the blood and will cause rapid and fatal damage to other organs within the body. Subcutaneous insulin injections or infusion of insulin from a pump must be delivered every day for the rest of a type one diabetic's life for survival. Approximately 5-10% of all diabetes cases are cases of type 1 diabetes. There is no known cause for type one diabetes, though certain genes and exposure to specific environmental influences, such as avirus or vitamin D deficiency, are correlated with an increased risk of developing it.

Type 2 diabetes occurs due to insulin resistance that results in an inefficient productuon or processing of insulin. Unlike type 1 diabetics, tyype 2 diabetics initially produce normal to above normal amounts of insulin, but overtime can also lose beta cells. This also causes a buildup of glucose in the blood and can lead to complications over time. Treatment options include diet and weight loss, excercise, medications that increase insulin sensitivity or inhibit the release of glucose from the liver, and insulin. Approximately 90-95% of all diabetes cases are from type 2 diabetes. Certain risk factors, such as age, obesity, genetics, other medical conditions, and race can increase a person's risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It affects roughly one in 25 pregnancies and increases the risks of both mother and child developing type 2 diabetes. Approximately half of all mothers with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years after delivery. Like type 1 diabetes, there is no known cause yet, though it is believed that the placenta that is allowing the baby to develop causes an increased amount of insulin resistance within the mother. Trearment includes diet, excercise, and insulin injections.

In addition, I am including a link to my diagnosis story. Please remember to keep all cupcakes away from me on November 6th. :)