Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

What’s the Difference between Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2?

Diabetes comes in two forms: type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 is generally considered more severe, especially because it often occurs in children and can be hard to control. This is an autoimmune disease.

The pancreas is an organ which your body uses to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes means the pancreas can no longer produce insulin.

This is a vital organ as insulin is required to keep you alive. Insulin is what transports your glucose from your blood to your cells. With out it, the sugar will stay in your blood and cause all sorts of problems, the least of which is frequent urination.

Additionally, your cells don’t have enough energy to grow or even function properly. You feel flat and tired. If this goes on for very long, it can result in damage to body tissue, blood vessels and internal organs.

Type 2 diabetes is basically the other way around.  This type 2 means your body hasn’t got the ability to use the insulin it produces.

In America, there are some 21 million people with type 2 diabetes.

It is the most common type of diabetes.

If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with diabetes, it is likely you have type 2. If a child is diagnosed with diabetes, they probably have type 1.

No one really knows what causes type 1 diabetes. 

Some scientists believe it begins with a virus which causes the individual’s immune system to attack the cells of the pancreas and permanently destroy them, but so far, this is only a theory.

When you have type 1 diabetes, glucose builds up in your bloodstream because there is no insulin to take it where it needs to go. Hence this causes damage to blood vessels and internal organs after a while.

Insulin must be taken several times a day by those with type 1 diabetes. They must also test their blood glucose level several times throughout the day to make sure they take the right amount of insulin.

Any diabetics with type 1 can get hyperglycemia at any time and need to know the symptoms. Hyperglycemia is when the glucose level in the blood is 70 or less.

A type 1 diabetic needs to constantly be aware of their own glucose level in their blood, how much insulin they give themselves, how much food they eat and what food they eat.

It is very important to get the correct amount of insulin with the right amount of food. A Doctor will give clear instructions on how much of each and how to tell if it is the proper amount.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common ailment.

Experts say type 2 diabetes is caused from common bad habits such as unhealthy diet, obesity and sedentary lifestyle.

Type 2 is also more likely to happen to those who are over 60 years old, have a history of metabolic syndrome, or a family history of type 2 diabetes and ethnicity.

Backgrounds with the most likely occurrence of diabetes are Latino, African-American, Asian-American, Native American and Pacific Islander.

Type 2 diabetes has symptoms such as increased thirst (due to frequent urination), unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in legs, feet or hands, itchy or dry skin, slow healing of cuts and bruises and frequent infections.

Type 2 diabetes can result in a lot of complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, depression and even amputation (if there is an infection which turns into gangrene).

There are lots of medications diabetics can take and numerous ways to help keep diabetes as under-control as possible. For example there are antihyperglycemic agents – some of which are oral and some of which are injectable. There is insulin to take plus weight management and blood glucose monitoring to be done.

Diet is very important to consider if you are a diabetic (and even if you are not!). Your diet should include lots of fresh fruit and veggies, complex carbohydrates such as grains and less over-processed, starchy, sugary and fatty foods.

Daily exercise is also very important!

For Type 1 Diabetes Information go here.