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Disease Analysis: Diabetes

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Introduction Diabetes is refers to two different diseases, Type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes, and Type 2 or adult onset diabetes. Those names refer to the times when those diseases generally appeared, but the diseases are not actually differentiated by function, but by the underlying cause of the disease. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by lifestyle factors, but is a probably some type of autoimmune disorder. People with Type 1 diabetes are insulin-dependent and can help control symptoms through lifestyle changes, but cannot change reverse the disease. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body makes sufficient insulin, but the body does not respond correctly to the insulin that it produces. The symptoms for both diseases have similar overlap, as do the treatment. However, in many people with Type 2 diabetes, the disease can be controlled through diet and exercise, which is not possible in Type 1 diabetes patients. Although referred to as juvenile diabetes, Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age. "However, it is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents, or young adults" (Eckman, Type 1 diabetes, 2011). It is the result of a failure of the beta cells in the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin. "Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy. This leads to the symptoms of type 1 diabetes" (Eckman, Type 1 diabetes, 2011). In contrast to Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes

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