Type 1 Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes - The Difference and Type 2 Diabetes - The Difference

We often heard about diabetes – type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is noteworthy to know the difference between them.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes become prevalence nowadays. Though they are having the same nature, there is a difference on how they are triggered.

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus is the condition where blood glucose is high because of lack of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that pushes the sugar in the blood to the cells so they fuel the body. There is lack of insulin because the organ that produces it called the pancreas is unable to function properly due to a virus or a disorder called autoimmune. The latter case happens when the body cannot recognize its own part and attacks it; in this case, it attacks the pancreas.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are both characterized by excessive blood sugar and one of the differences between these types is that type 1 usually happens to people who are thin and when the person is less than 40 years old. That is why it is also known as juvenile onset diabetes. Since they lack insulin, patients with type 1 take insulin through pumps or injections.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes or diabetes insipidus happens when insulin in the body is less efficient of doing its job to move sugar from the blood to the body cells. It can move sugar from the bloodstream, but not as efficient as it should be, leaving some sugar stay in the blood. The result: high blood sugar level.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be corrected with proper diet. However, one of the major differences between the two is that type 2 diabetes can be effectively controlled with weight loss and exercise but type 1 is more associated with insulin shots. Type 2 is usually a result of obesity or physical inactivity and happens to adults; that is why it is sometimes called as the adult onset diabetes. Lately though, it is reported that a lot of children already developed type 2 diabetes.

Difference

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have one in common - high blood sugar. While type 1 diabetes is caused by lack of insulin, type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance. For type 1 and type 2 diabetes major difference is that in type 2, there is enough insulin in the body, as the organ producing it called the pancreas is doing its job properly. Only, the insulin is not working well enough, or the body does not listen to it.

While 10-15 percent of diabetics are of type 1, the majority are type 2. Type 1 diabetes usually happens at an early age, while type 2 during adulthood. Insulin alone can treat type 1, while lifestyle and diet change can treat type 2.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with the heart, so treatment is not only focused on blood sugar but to controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have no difference when it comes to detection. It is always better if they can be detected and treated earlier.