What type are you?

So its been a while and i've decided to write another blog, a blog thats kinda linked to an e-petition I launched on Tuesday the 22nd of January.

You've not signed the petition - tut - well here's your chance http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44771

Maybe you'd rather hear what the petition is about first and why I chose to create it, well then here goes -

Being diagnosed with diabetes is a rough ride - being diagnosed with something that comes in multiple variants doesn't make it any easier, but lets get down to the beginning -

diabetes [ˌdaɪəˈbiːtɪs -tiːz]n(Medicine / Pathology) any of various disorders, esp diabetes mellitus, characterized by excretion of an abnormally large amount of urine
[from Latin: siphon, from Greek, literally: a passing through (referring to the excessive urination), fromdiabainein to pass through, cross over; see diabase]

So there we have the definition - the big issue is - why has the body suddenly started to excrete large amounts of urine and this is where the problem begins for those with no knowledge of diabetes.

 Diabetes mellitus type 1 (type 1 diabetes, T1DM, formerly insulin dependent or juvenile diabetes) is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose. The classical symptoms are polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), and weight loss.

 Diabetes mellitus type 2 (formerly noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes) is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. This is in contrast to diabetes mellitus type 1, in which there is an absolute insulin deficiency due to destruction of islet cells in the pancreas

 Rates of type 2 diabetes have increased markedly over the last 50 years in parallel with obesity: As of 2010 there are approximately 285 million people with the disease compared to around 30 million in 1985

Variants with lots in common but very different - the things in common tend to be the symptons and the complications -

Long-term complications from high blood sugar can include heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy where eyesight is affected, kidney failure which may require dialysis, and poor circulation of limbs leading toamputations. The acute complication of ketoacidosis, is mainly a feature of type 1 diabetes. However, people with Type 2 diabetes can go into a nonketotic hyperosmolar coma

What isn't common is the 'Why', but the media and unfortunately the Government will tend to make statements about 'diabetes' without attributing the 'Why'.  Yes the costs of treatments is high, yes the treating of complications is time consuming and costly and yes both variants of diabetes will need treatment and a large minority will need treatment for complications.  Where those charged with informing the nation get it wrong is by their constant mis-labeling of People With Diabetes - they engage in covering the condition with a blanket and treating us all the same.

For those readers who aren't diabetic you may question 'Why is this getting the Type right so important?' Good question and in reality before I was diagnosed as Type 1 I couldn't care less - ignorance is bliss, but once you have a connection with something then knowledge is key.

I don't blame people for their ignorance, but that ignorance can have far reaching consequences, one of the complications not referred to above is 'Depression'.

Diabetes as a condition is life altering, many of those diagnosed, both Type 1 and Type 2 will walk the line with depression, such a ground changing event to their lives being the cause, and one of the things that can force people to fall over the line, is the ignorance of others.

What I hope in my petition is to force those charged with responsibility for education and health in our country to use their influence to remove the ignorance.