Introduction
Diabetes has become a public health problem and is on the rise throughout the world. More than 35 million individuals in America are affected by diabetes. In older adults, this condition may be underdiagnosed, especially among those who are not overweight or obese. Recent research has come up with type 4 diabetes, which is not officially classified.
What Is Type 4 Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin or the body cannot utilize the insulin produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone responsible for regulating glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose provides energy for cells to function. This is also a main source of energy for the brain. There are different types of diabetes. The most common types of diabetes include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, Prediabetes, and gestational diabetes.
1. Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune condition in which the cells that produce insulin get damaged because the immune system attacks the cells of the pancreas.
2. Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body stops responding to the insulin the pancreas produces. With time, the pancreas also stops secreting sufficient insulin. This may be because of genetic and lifestyle factors.
3. Prediabetes: In this condition, the levels of blood sugar are high but not yet that high, and it cannot be classified as type 2 diabetes.
4. Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes occurs due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Hormones secreted in the placenta may lower the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
There are other variations of diabetes. These include:
- Maturity Onset Diabetes of Young (MODY): This type of diabetes mainly occurs due to genetic variations. MODY occurs before 25 years of age.
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA): This is considered to be another type of diabetes because it does not follow the metabolic pathways of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. However, this condition has the characteristics of both types of diabetes. Affected individuals may be aged 35 years or older.
- Type 3 Diabetes: It is an anomaly and is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It is not an official classification. Insulin resistance in the brain is part of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
A recent addition to the list is the other type of diabetes. This is type 4 diabetes. Type 4 diabetes is related to insulin resistance among leans and older adults. This may be due to a variation in the accumulation of some of the immune cells. According to a study, type 4 diabetes is underdiagnosed. The reason is its association with older ages, which does not occur among obese individuals.
What Are the Causes of Type 4 Diabetes?
This type of diabetes is linked to certain immune cells called regulatory T cells. These cells are found to be responsible for the aging process. The researchers have found this information in studies done on mice. This has yet to be confirmed in humans.
What Are the Symptoms of Type 4 Diabetes?
The symptoms of type 4 are not different from those of other types of diabetes. This condition is underdiagnosed as it occurs among lean individuals with moderate weight. Symptoms include:
- Tiredness.
- Experience increased thirst.
- Feel increased hunger.
- Vision gets blurred.
- Delayed healing of sores.
- Experience frequent urination.
- Unintentional weight loss may be seen.
What Are the Risk Factors for Type 4 Diabetes?
The risk factors for type 4 diabetes are unique. They are very important in preventing, detecting, and managing the condition. These include:
1. Sedentary Lifestyle: This lifestyle involves sitting for long hours and limited physical activity. Physical activity is very important for insulin sensitivity as age increases. Practicing regular exercise can help in preventing or managing this condition.
2. Poor Diet: Diet patterns can influence the development of type 4 diabetes. Consumption of saturated fats, processed foods, and added sugars can affect insulin resistance. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help promote insulin sensitivity.
3. Obesity: Though obesity is not associated with this type. However, obesity may influence insulin sensitivity, and the weight has to be maintained to prevent type 4 diabetes. Type 4 diabetes occurs in non-obese individuals, which is the complexity of this condition.
4. Family History: A family history can increase the risk of type 4 diabetes. Genetic factors influence insulin sensitivity. Hence, individuals with a family history must practice a healthy lifestyle.
How to Diagnose Type 4 Diabetes?
This type of diabetes includes blood tests. These involve fasting blood sugar tests and oral glucose tolerance tests. These tests help measure insulin resistance. Healthcare professionals scrutinize these tests to arrive at the diagnosis of type 4 diabetes.
How to Manage Type 4 Diabetes?
Type 4 diabetes has its own set of challenges. Hence, it needs to be managed effectively. The management of type 4 diabetes involves multiple approaches. These include:
- Lifestyle Modifications: These modifications involve diet and exercise. A balanced diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy body weight may help maintain insulin sensitivity, which is possible even in old age.
- Medications: Medications may sometimes be given to treat this condition. These medications work in different ways to improve insulin resistance.
- Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels: The affected individual must regularly monitor blood sugar levels. This act may help track the progress and help adjust the medication dosage. This also gives information about the variations in blood sugar levels.
- Regular Checkups: Regular checkups are essential to maintaining a healthy life among those affected by type 4 diabetes. Overall health can be monitored with regular checkups.
What Are the Complications of Type 4 Diabetes?
The complications of type 4 diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Problems related to kidney.
- Issues related to vision.
- Nerves related issues.
- Foot problems.
Early detection of this condition can help in getting an effective treatment.
Conclusion
Diabetes is on the rise. There are varieties of diabetes that have been identified recently. One of them is type 4 diabetes. It is known for its uniqueness. It is not related to obesity but to the aging process. It cannot be diagnosed easily and hence goes unnoticed. Lack of awareness worsens the situation. Hence, it becomes important to know about type 4 diabetes, its causes, symptoms, complications, and management. Knowing about the condition and adopting a healthy lifestyle, one can manage type 4 diabetes well and improve quality of life.
