What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?!


Question: In Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. This typically occurs in childhood

In Type 2 or insulin resistant diabetes, the insulin doesn't work correctly. Insulin may still be produced.


Answers: In Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. This typically occurs in childhood

In Type 2 or insulin resistant diabetes, the insulin doesn't work correctly. Insulin may still be produced.

Type I diabetes is a problem with insulin production, the pancreas simply does not produce enough. It must be treated with insulin, and typically starts early in life (although not always).

Type II diabetes has more to do with insulin resistance, you may be able to produce enough insulin (sometimes very large amounts) but it does not work as well. It can often be treated with oral medications, though sometimes requires insulin. Type 2 diabetes is also more common as age increases and is associated with obesity, which type 1 is not.

The main differences:

Type 1 is caused by damage to pancreas through injury or illness which causes it to not produce insulin any more.

Type 2 is insulin resistance or glucose intolerance in which the pancreas works very well, maybe too well, but the bod just doesn't use the insulin and glucose to advantage.

Insulin causes the muscles to take in glucose to fuel them. If the insulin doesn't work this way, the glucose just floats around in the blood stream attaching itself to red blood cells. If there isn't any insulin to begin with or not enough, honeymoon stage of type 1, the glucose can't get into the muscles to work at all so just floats around in the blood.

Type 1 must always use insulins and sometimes if they become insulin resistant they get something like metformin too.

Type 2 do diet and exercise, oral meds and sometimes insulin combinations to control the glucose floating in the blood stream.

There are no age levels to either type of diabetes. Late Onset Diabetes is those older people who become type 1. But it is treated just as if they were younger, with insulin injections.

Type 2 is diagnosed in children as well as senior citizens, so don't be fooled by thinking toddlers couldn't have type 2 instead of type 1.

It is all in the genetics or the damage the pancreas may have had. There is a blood test to see which it is definitely, but needs to be done before medications are started.

Your age when you develop the disease.





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories