November is National Diabetes Month, meant to bring awareness to a condition that impacts 9.4% of the population. There are several different kinds of diabetes, for this month we are focusing on diabetes mellitus, sometimes called sugar diabetes (mel is honey in Latin, referring to sweet sugar), a condition where the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high.
The type of diabetes that is more common in the U.S. is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) where the body does not respond to insulin, leading to high blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes, historically called insulin-dependent DM (IDDM), is associated with autoimmune destruction of the pancreas, and less insulting is secreted, leading to high blood sugar.
There is also adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, similar to type 1 but sometimes not as severe because it has a slower process, called Latent (onset) Autoimmune Diabetes Of the Adult (or LADA). Sometimes people with LADA are misdiagnosed as T2DM.
There is also a group of genetic diabetes, linked to mutations in single genes that impair pancreas activity, called Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), and subtypes. There are 5 types, each with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Onset is often before 25 years of age, or younger than 35, and can occur often in childhood or adolescence.
While treatment of these different types of diabetes is similar when using natural therapies, some of these types like LADA or MODY, do better with specific pharmaceutical medication. This aspect of reducing medication is one reason why I enjoy working with people with diabetes. While not all people are able to reduce medications, natural medicine can be helpful at reducing side effects of some, and overall improving health outcomes. Make an appointment with me if you are interested in learning more.