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.

---

PARLOT.COM: Turnkey Money Making websites

The Profect Solution for Diabetics

Diabetes, which affects more than 6% of the US population... Read More

Diabetic Frozen Shoulder. An Explanation of The Frozen Shoulder - Diabetes Connection?

Diabetic frozen shoulder is a major problem. The pain and... Read More

Recognizing Early Symptoms Diabetes

Early symptoms diabetesStay alert in recognizing early symptoms of diabetes.... Read More

Diabetes and its Management

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most costly burdensome chronic... Read More

Diabetic Foot Care Tips: Cant Afford to Ignore It!

Most of the time, we focus on health or skin... Read More

Diabetes Awareness: Diabetes on the Job

When you go to work, your diabetes goes with you.You... Read More

Accu-Check Aviva Glucometer - New for Diabetes Testing

Now you can help make every test strip count as... Read More

Diabetes And The Long Term Dangers

Diabetes has hidden dangers that begin before diagnosis and continue... Read More

Avandia Side Effect Lawyer: Diabetes Drug Damages Liver

Avandia, a compound of rosiglitazone maleate, is an oral antidiabetic... Read More

Diabetes: Calling For Double Trouble!

Diabetes!!!Open your eyes to the catastrophic effects of Diabetes. The... Read More

Pre-Diabetes: Check Engine Warning Light

Your car has an early detection system and so does... Read More

Diabetes Awareness: Ill Wait til it Hurts

By the time many type 2 diabetics (and often their... Read More

Double Diabetes -- Placing Your Kids at Even More Risk

In some medical circles it's called Type 3 Diabetes. Teenagers... Read More

Preparing Your Child and Family for Life With Diabetes

After the initial shock of diagnosis wears off and we... Read More

Diabetes Break-Thru Helps Battle Blood Sugar Woes

Are you a diabetic? If so, you are definitely not... Read More

Medical Supply Cases for Insulin and Diabetics

Medical supply manufacturers are continuously conceptualizing medical supplies needed by... Read More

Diabetes, A Bad Omen Or A Fresh Start?

So you've learned that you've got diabetes. Well after the... Read More

Can We Do More for Diabetics? New Research Suggests that We Can

Diabetes can briefly be defined as a state when the... Read More

Pancreas Transplants - A Solution For Type 1 Diabetes Sufferers?

Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as juvenile diabetes or... Read More

Diabetes Awareness: The Downside... a New Wardrobe?

Here is some commonsense thinking:I can't understand why anyone who... Read More

Just Say NO to an 1800 Diabetic Diet

It's been a year, and 85 blubbery pounds less, since... Read More

Insulin Resistance And Complex Carbohydrates

One of the biggest mistakes that weight loss failures make... Read More

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes affects the manner in which the body handles digested... Read More

Diabetes the Silent Killer ? The Iceberg Effect!

What sank the "Unsinkable Ship" the Titanic was not the... Read More

Diabetes is Manageable

It is estimated that over 18 million people over the... Read More