Your Villa - East Valley - February

H E A L T H + B E A U T Y It’s time to reframe how we think of type 1 diabetes Approximately one in 10 Americans have some type of diabetes. While as many as 95% of these cases are classified as type 2 diabetes, the number of people living with type 1 diabetes is increasing over time. It’s for this reason it is critical to raise awareness for the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes, with the goal of ensuring that people of all ages understand the importance of early detection. 7o do so effectively, however, it·s important that we Eegin Ey e[panding our collective understanding of type 1 diabetes, which is distinct from type 2 diabetes despite both being forms of “diabetes mellitus.” While type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder, with lifestyle factors playing a role in development, as well as genetic factors, type diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that can arise from environmental or genetic factors. Just consider that if anyone in your family has type 1 diabetes, you’re up to 15 times more likely to be diagnosed. Additionally, although type diaEetes often develops in children, teens and young adults, it can affect anyone at any age. In fact, recent data show that over of new cases of type 1 diabetes occur in adults. 7ype diaEetes also cannot Ee prevented or cured. But what’s perhaps most critical to know about type diaEetes isn·t Must its prevalence, it·s the fact that it can be detected early through autoantibody screenings. %ecause type diaEetes develops in stages over time, there are blood tests that can detect type 1 diabetes before any noticeable symptoms arise, before insulin is required and potentially before any life-threatening complications occur. One such example of this is a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a serious complication that develops when you don·t have enough insulin to let blood sugar into your cells. $s a result, your liver is forced to break down fat for fuel, producing dangerous levels of acids called ketones in your body that can lead to coma or even death. 8nfortunately, for individuals who have undiagnosed type diaEetes, '.$ is far too often how they find out they have diaEetes with as many as of '.$ cases stemming from those who are newly diagnosed. When it comes to type 1 diabetes, early screening may give you more time to prepare. 7he more you know, the more you can plan ahead. Take control of the future now by talking to your doctor about getting screened. Not knowing is simply no longer an acceptable option. BrandPointContent.com edited by YourVilla Sta For more information, visit The1Pledge.com 30 | Your Villa Magazine

Your Villa - East Valley - February - March 2024