What's the Difference Between Type1 and Type2 Diabetes?
What Is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are two different chronic diseases that affect the way the body regulates glucose which is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks and destroys its own insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.1
Without insulin, blood glucose levels rise, which if left untreated may eventually lead to dangerous complications.2 Type 1 diabetes typically develops earlier in life but can occur at any age.1 Since the body cannot adequately produce the hormone insulin, people living with type 1 diabetes require exogenous insulin, either through multiple daily injections or through insulin pump therapy. 3
People living with type 2 diabetes initially produce insulin; however, the insulin they produce is either not efficiently used or is insufficient to regulate their blood glucose. Insulin resistance (often associated with type 2 diabetes) is when your cells don’t respond well to the insulin your body is making and therefore can’t shuttle the glucose from your blood to your body cells to be used for energy.4 Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is typically diagnosed in adulthood but may also occur in children and young adults.5 People living with type 2 diabetes may have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may be managed by nutrition, increased physical activity and adequate sleep, as well as by oral medications and insulin. 5
1. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html
2. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications
3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-1-diabetes
4. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/insulin-resistance.html
5. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
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