Dr. Mercola August 13 2005 997 views
Doctors are seeing increasing numbers of patients with "double diabetes" -- the symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat patients, particularly if they are children.
Type 1 diabetes happens when your body's own immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of your pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is a function of your body being unable to process insulin properly.
Blurring the Lines
Double diabetes can come in many forms, and happen at any age. Some people start as type 1 diabetics, and then develop the more common type 2 as a result of weight gain. Others may simply not fall clearly into one of the two categories.
This creates problems because different types of diabetes call for different treatments.
Children at Risk
At the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 25 percent of children with type 1 diabetes are also demonstrating type 2 symptoms. At the same time, a study to determine the best treatment for children with type 2 diabetes has found that many of the participants also have the type 1 form.
Both forms of diabetes can result in further problems if not treated properly, including:
Killer Weight Gain
It is theorized that one cause of double diabetes might be obesity, either because it accelerates autoimmune destruction, or causes the pancreas to be overworked until it wears out.
It is unknown whether or not double diabetics will need special treatments. Double diabetes has also been called atypical diabetes, diabetes 1 1/2, and type 3 diabetes.
San Francisco Chronicle July 19, 2005
Over 95 percent of diabetics are type 2 (insulin resistant). But a growing number of those with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) are beginning to suffer the effects of type 2 as well. This is because they have not made the simple diet and lifestyle changes that can control blood sugar levels and prevent the worsening of diabetic complications.
One of the major problems is that the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and nearly every endocrinologist who treats type 1 diabetes, has no idea whatsoever about the concept of slow carbs and nutritional typing.
Contributing editor and noted colleague Dr. Ron Rosedale probably said it best in his recent comments on treating diabetes:
"What they're being told to do by their doctor is not helping them, and in fact may be prolonging and likely exacerbating their disease ... Unfortunately, doctors are poor teachers because they themselves are being taught wrong. They are being taught by very large and wealthy corporations, including pharmaceutical companies, whose motives are not to improve people's health, but to maximize profit ... The medical profession still treats diabetes as a disease of blood sugar, since that is a symptom that can be modified with drugs ... diabetes is not a disease of blood sugar; it is a disease of insulin, and perhaps even more appropriately, leptin signaling."
"What they're being told to do by their doctor is not helping them, and in fact may be prolonging and likely exacerbating their disease ... Unfortunately, doctors are poor teachers because they themselves are being taught wrong. They are being taught by very large and wealthy corporations, including pharmaceutical companies, whose motives are not to improve people's health, but to maximize profit ...
The medical profession still treats diabetes as a disease of blood sugar, since that is a symptom that can be modified with drugs ... diabetes is not a disease of blood sugar; it is a disease of insulin, and perhaps even more appropriately, leptin signaling."
All diabetics, whether they have type 1, type 2, or both, should take the following steps:
Get enough sleep. Too little sleep may reduce levels of leptin, leading to weight gain and increased risk of diabetes. Many people are chronically sleep deprived.
Reduce or eliminate sugars and grains from your diet. This is the single most important change most diabetics can make; it prevents insulin spikes, and eventually lowers your body's insulin level.
Exercise. Vigorous aerobic exercise increases the sensitivity of your insulin and leptin receptors, which enables your body to use insulin and leptin more effectively. This lowers your blood sugars, and allows for reduced insulin and leptin production in your body. Diabetics with blood sugars over 170 mg/dl need to use extra caution and medical supervision for their exercise program, because elevated blood sugars may rise further with exercise.
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