Doctors are seeing increasing numbers of patients with "double diabetes" -- the symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat patients, particularly if they are children.
Type 1 diabetes happens when your body's own immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of your pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is a function of your body being unable to process insulin properly.
Blurring the Lines
Double diabetes can come in many forms, and happen at any age. Some people start as type 1 diabetics, and then develop the more common type 2 as a result of weight gain. Others may simply not fall clearly into one of the two categories.
This creates problems because different types of diabetes call for different treatments.
Children at Risk
At the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 25 percent of children with type 1 diabetes are also demonstrating type 2 symptoms. At the same time, a study to determine the best treatment for children with type 2 diabetes has found that many of the participants also have the type 1 form.
Both forms of diabetes can result in further problems if not treated properly, including:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Blindness
- Amputation
- Death
Killer Weight Gain
It is theorized that one cause of double diabetes might be obesity, either because it accelerates autoimmune destruction, or causes the pancreas to be overworked until it wears out.
It is unknown whether or not double diabetics will need special treatments. Double diabetes has also been called atypical diabetes, diabetes 1 1/2, and type 3 diabetes.
San Francisco Chronicle July 19, 2005
