Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are becoming more common in the United States. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about diabetes, as well as about some of the current research into the disease. The increase in type 2 diabetes is linked to the obesity epidemic, but doctors don’t know why cases of type 1 diabetes are on the rise.
Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes because it’s often diagnosed early in life. People with this form of diabetes are dependent on insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Dr. Soumya Adhikari, a pediatrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the biggest sign to look for is an increase in urination and thirst. That can be difficult to spot in hot months because you may assume that your thirst is because of the weather and you’re going to the bathroom more often because of drinking more. That’s probably true in most cases, but if it’s different from most summers or if you’re losing weight and feel ill, see your doctor.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/endocrinology to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in endocrinology.
