Double Diabetes | Understanding the Intersection of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes | T1D Nutrition

Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which can lead to severe complications affecting various organs in the body.

While there are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes (T1D – insulin dependent diabetes) and Type 2 (T2D – insulin resistant diabetes), each with distinct features and risk factors, there exists a lesser-known condition that blends elements of both: Double Diabetes (DD).

1️⃣Defining Double Diabetes: Double Diabetes refers to a condition where individuals with Type 1 diabetes also exhibit insulin resistance, a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.

2️⃣Discovery and Evolution: The concept of Double Diabetes was first introduced in 1991 to describe individuals with features of both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Since then, various definitions and criteria have been proposed, with some including the presence of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

3️⃣Health Implications: Double Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of complications, especially macrovascular complications, independent of glycemic control. This highlights the importance of early detection and targeted interventions to manage both insulin resistance and blood glucose levels effectively.

4️⃣Understanding the Causes: The development of Double Diabetes is multi factorial. Genetic predisposition, autoimmune processes involved in Type 1 diabetes, and lifestyle factors such as obesity can contribute to the development of insulin resistance seen in Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, although also multi factorial occurs when the body no longer responses to insulin's action due to prolonged high amounts of insulin being produced over a period of time leading which has lead to weight gain and subsequently elevated blood glucose levels, as glucose is unable to move into the cell and remains in the blood stream.

However, the use of insulin therapy in Type 1 diabetes, while essential for managing the condition, in large amounts in response to today's high carbohydrate way of eating can lead to weight gain and exacerbate insulin resistance, leading to Type 2 diabetes, and Double Diabetes.

👉Up Next: The Double Diabetes Series will focus on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Type 1 diabetes population, the cause, and subsequent development of Double Diabetes in the Type 1 diabetes population.

If you are interested in improving your child's Type 1 diabetes management and successfully implementing a Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction/low-carb nutrition strategy, so you can safely achieve normal blood sugar levels, relieve stress, anxiety, and frustration, and nourish your child's growing body, visit:

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REFERENCES

Bielka, W., Przezak, A., Molęda, P. et al. Double diabetes—when type 1 diabetes meets type 2 diabetes: definition, pathogenesis and recognition. Cardiovasc Diabetol 23, 62 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-024-02145-x