The same symptoms listed above may also affect type 2 diabetes, but usually the symptoms are less obvious. The emergence of type 2 diabetes is gradual and therefore difficult to detect. In fact, some people with type 2 diabetes show no symptoms evident at first. They tend to be diagnosed several years later, when various complications are already present.

Threatening complications:

Without adequate production and action of insulin, glucose stays in the blood, causing chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This can cause complications in the short and long term, many of which, if not prevented and treated, can be fatal. All have the potential to reduce the quality of life of people with diabetes and their families.

The most common complications in the long term are:

Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), which can lead to total kidney failure and the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy and macular edema), lesions of the retina of the eye that can cause vision loss.

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve disease) which can lead to ulceration and amputation of feet and lower limbs.

Cardiovascular disease, which affects the heart and blood vessels and could cause fatal complications such as coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack) and stroke.

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the world. Each year 3.8 million people die from causes related to diabetes.

Diabetes is preventable
Changes in the living environment, and early detection measures proven to prevent diabetes can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, delay its onset or at least reduce its impact. For people with type 1 diabetes is not yet possible to prevent the disease. However, much can be done to prevent or delay diabetes complications if people have access to adequate care, medication and adequate monitoring equipment.

It may be the case that the body does not produce enough insulin, which is when the diabetes is type 1, or can not use it produces, that is when there is type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes, which is also known as insulin dependent diabetes, immune or juvenile home, is the result of an autoimmune reaction, in which the body’s defense system attacks insulin-producing cells. People with this type of diabetes produce very little or no insulin injections they need every day and thus control the blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes can affect people of any age but usually occurs mainly in children or young adults.

Type 2 diabetes, known as noninsulin dependent or adult, is more common in people over 45 years are overweight. However, following the rise of obesity among young people, is lowering the age of those affected. These patients often need insulin injections because they can control the glucose in your body by paying attention to your diet, exercising and taking oral medication.

This type of diabetes is most prevalent, accounting for 90-95 percent of all cases of this disease, and if not properly diagnosed and treated can develop serious complications that can generate even premature death. Not surprisingly, each year 3.8 million people die worldwide of causes related to this disease, ranking it as the fourth leading cause of death.

Besides these two types of diabetes, gestational diabetes exists that some women develop, usually on a temporary basis during pregnancy. This type of diabetes occurs between 2 and 5% of all pregnancies and in these cases there is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time.