Most of us believe that there are only two types of diabetes. Meanwhile, medicine knows one more – type 3 diabetes. What is it characterized by and in whom it develops most often
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where cells in the immune system destroy the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The disease most often makes itself felt in childhood or early adulthood and almost always requires insulin treatment. Type 2 diabetes develops when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs. It usually develops in middle-aged people. People with type 2 diabetes are very often obese or significantly overweight.
A new type of diabetes?
Where does type 3 diabetes come from? According to the researchers, it is the aftermath of a completely different disease. Type 3 diabetes, also called secondary diabetes, occurs in people with damaged pancreas, e.g. as a result of inflammation or cancer. But not only. Type XNUMX diabetes is also associated with liver disease and hormonal disorders. This type of damage to the pancreas causes the organ to be unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin as well as proteins necessary for the digestion of food (digestive enzymes) and other hormones.
It’s not so simple
Although diabetes is diagnosed more and more often, a large group of doctors is not able to accurately determine its type. Recent studies show that type 3 diabetes is confused with type 2. According to estimates, only 3 percent. the population has been correctly diagnosed. British researchers, after analyzing the data collected by the Royal College of General Practitioners Research and the surveillance database (RCGP RSC), concluded that there may be many more people with type 3 diabetes than expected.
Although the percentage of people with pancreatic disease who develop diabetes is unknown, the disease may take years to develop and may not be present (the first symptoms may appear up to 10 years after the appearance of the health problems). It turned out that in adults type 3 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes. As much as 1 percent. of new cases of diabetes in adults is type 1 diabetes, compared with 1,6 percent. in the case of type 3 diabetes.
A diagnosis is necessary
Worse still, people with type 3 diabetes are usually ignorant of the disease and do not control their blood sugar levels, do not take medications, and are not on a proper diet. That is why more accurate diagnostics and an individualized approach to each patient are so important.
Some drugs for type 2 diabetes, such as gliclazide, may not be as effective in type 3 diabetes. A misdiagnosis can therefore waste time and money in ineffective treatment, while exposing the patient to high blood sugar levels.