Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and the Difference?
Elke Robins | 31 March 2022
Hello, my mane is Elke and Welcome to my Website.
Today we will look at Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and the difference.
Please note that some of the data for Type 1 Diabetes are the same as Type 2 Diabetes.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic illness in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
In order for glucose to be utilised as energy, the hormone insulin must be present in the bloodstream.
Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, diet, and lifestyle.
But there is no cure for type 1 diabetes.
The treatment objective is to manage blood sugar levels with insulin, diet, and lifestyle changes.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms include:
- Drenched
- Intense urination
- Bed-wetting in previously dry children Extreme hunger
- Undesirable weight
- Mood swings and irritability
- sluggishness and
- hazy vision
- A doctor’s visit
If you or your kid display any of the aforementioned symptoms, visit a doctor immediately.
Make a Mayo Clinic Appointment
Type 1 diabetes has no recognised aetiology.
Usually, the body’s immune system kills insulin-producing (islet, or Langerhans) cells in the pancreas.
Other factors might be:
Genetics Viral and additional environmental exposure
Insulin’s function
You’ll generate little or no insulin if your islet cells are damaged.
The pancreas produces insulin by secreting the hormone into the bloodstream (pancreas).
- The pancreas sends insulin into the Blood.
- Insulin allows sugar into cells.
- Insulin reduces blood sugar levels.
The pancreas secretes less insulin when your blood sugar level declines.
Glucose’s
Glucose, some,
is a significant energy source for muscle and other tissue cells.
- Glucose originates from meals and your liver.
- Sugar enters the circulation and enters cells with insulin.
- Glycogen is stored in the liver.
- The liver turns glycogen into glucose when blood glucose levels fall, such as when you haven’t eaten for a while.
- Because type 1 diabetes lacks insulin, sugar builds up in the bloodstream.
- This may lead to fatal consequences.
Hazards
Type 1 diabetes risk factors include:
Family tree
Type 1 diabetes is more likely to run in your family if you have a parent or sibling who has it.
Genetics. Specific genes enhance the likelihood of getting type 1 diabetes.
Geography
Away from the equator, the incidence of type 1 diabetes increases. 
Type 1 diabetes has two distinct peaks in onset.
The first peak occurs in children aged 4–7, and the second in those aged 10–14.
Complications
Complications of type 1 diabetes may damage critical organs such as:
- the heart
- blood vessels
- nerves
- eyes
- and kidneys
Normalising blood sugar reduces the risk of several problems.
Diabetes complications may be debilitating or even fatal.
Heart and vascular disease Diabetes raises the risk of:
- coronary artery disease
- heart attack
- stroke
- arterial constriction (atherosclerosis)
- and high blood pressure
- Nerve harm (neuropathy)
Sugar may damage the capillary walls that supply your nerves, particularly the legs.
These symptoms generally begin at the tips of the toes or fingers and progressively extend upward.
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels might lead to limb numbness.
Neural damage to the gastrointestinal system may produce:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- or constipation
Erectile dysfunction affects males.
Kidney harm (nephropathy)
These small clusters of blood vessels remove trash from your blood.
In extreme instances of diabetes, dialysis or transplantation is required.
Eye harm
Diabetic retinopathy damages the retinal blood vessels, possibly causing blindness.
Diabetes raises the risk of significant eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Foot harm
Foot nerve injury or inadequate blood flow raises the risk of foot problems.
If left untreated, untreated wounds and blisters may progress into serious infections that need an amputation.
Skin and mouth issues
Diabetes makes you more prone to skin and mouth infections, both bacterial and fungal.
Dry mouth and gum disease are more likely.
Obstetric issues
High blood sugar levels may harm both mother and child.
Uncontrolled diabetes raises the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth abnormalities.
Obstetric hypertension (HIV) and preeclampsia are risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis in the mother.
Prevention
Type 1 diabetes has no recognised cure.
However, researchers are working to avoid disease or islet cell loss in newly diagnosed individuals.
Ask your doctor whether you qualify for one of these trials, but weigh the risks and rewards.
Type 2 Diabetic
Overview
Type 2 diabetes impacts sugar metabolism (glucose). 
Too much sugar flows in the blood.
High blood sugar levels may harm the cardiovascular, neurological, and immunological systems.
Type 2 diabetes has two significant issues at work.
Your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, so your cells don’t react well to it and take in less sugar.
However, type 1 and type 2 diabetes may start in infancy or maturity.
Type 2 diabetes is more frequent in older persons.
However, childhood obesity has increased the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children.
Type 2 diabetes is incurable, although decreasing weight, eating healthily, and exercising may help.
You may require diabetic medicines or insulin treatment to control blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms can appear gradually.
It’s possible that you’ve had type 2 diabetes for years without realising it.
Symptoms and indications include:
- Drenched
- Frequent urination
- Undesirable weight
- Fatigue
- hazy vision
- Chronic wounds
- infected often
- Hands or feet numb or tingling
- Darkened skin in the armpits and neck
- A doctor’s visit
Consult your doctor if you develop type 2 diabetes symptoms.
Make a Mayo Clinic Appointment
Type 2 diabetes is caused by two interconnected issues:
Insulin-resistant muscle, fat, and liver cells don’t take up enough sugar.
Diabetes arises as a consequence of the pancreas producing inadequate insulin.
We don’t know why but being overweight and sedentary are significant contributors.
Insulin action
The pancreas produces insulin by secreting the hormone into the bloodstream (pancreas).
- Insulin controls how the body consumes sugar.
- Sugar in the blood causes insulin secretion.
- Sugar enters cells via insulin, a hormone.
- Lowering your blood sugar level has a positive effect.
- The pancreas responds by producing less insulin.
Glucose’s
Glucose, some sugar, is a significant energy source for muscle and other tissue cells.
Glucose utilisation and control include:
Glucose originates from meals and your liver.
Glucose enters the circulation and enters cells with insulin.
That’s what your liver does!
When you don’t eat for a time and your blood glucose drops, your liver turns stored glycogen into glucose.
Type 2 diabetes has a problem with this system.
As blood sugar rises, the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells release more insulin.
These cells eventually fail to produce enough insulin to fulfil the body’s needs.
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system erroneously kills beta cells, leaving the body insulin deficient.
Hazards
The following are some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes:
Weight. Obesity is a significant danger.
Deflation of t Fat storage in the belly rather than the hips and thighs implies higher risk.
In men, a waist circumference of 40 inches (101.6 cm) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes (88.9 centimetres).
Inactivity
Fewer activity increases danger.
Physical exercise burns glucose for energy and makes cells more responsive to insulin.
Family tree
Type 2 diabetes risk rises if a parent or sibling has it.
Ethnicity
Type 2 diabetes affects individuals of all races and ethnicities equally. 
However, it affects people of colour more than whites.
Lipid levels.
Low HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and high triglycerides are linked to an increased risk.
Age
Type 2 diabetes risk rises with age, particularly after 45.
Prediabetes.
Prediabetes is not present, yet blood sugar levels are increased.
Pre-diabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
Risks of pregnancy
A family history of gestational diabetes or a child weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms).
PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) raises the risk of diabetes.
Darkened skin in the armpits and neck.
Insulin resistance is typically the cause.
Complications
Type 2 diabetes affects the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
Diabetes risk factors can enhance the risk of other major chronic illnesses.
Controlling diabetes and blood sugar may reduce the likelihood of these consequences (comorbidities).
Diabetes-related complications and comorbidities include:
Coronary heart disease Diabetes is a risk factor for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis).
Nerve injury in the limbs. Over time, high blood sugar may:
- damage or kill nerves
- causing tingling
- numbness
- burning pain
- or ultimate loss of sensation
Nerve injury
Heart nerve damage may cause abnormal heartbeats.
Gut nerve injury may induce nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation.
Nerve injury in males may cause ED.
Diarrhea
Diabetes may cause chronic kidney damage, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Eye harm
A diabetes-related eye disease such as cataracts or glaucoma, or retinal blood vessel damage may cause blindness.
Skin issues
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of bacterial and fungal skin diseases.
Healer’s Untreated wounds and blisters may grow infected and heal poorly.
Severe injury may need toe, foot, or leg a
Hearing loss. Diabetes causes additional hearing issues.
Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is frequent among diabetics.
Obesity may be the primary cause of both diseases.
It’s unclear whether treating sleep apnea helps regulate blood sugar.
Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias appear to be linked to type 2 diabetes.
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels are connected to memory loss and other cognitive impairments.
Prevention
Even if you have biological relatives with diabetes, adopting a healthy lifestyle may help avoid type 2 diabetes.
If you have prediabetes, making lifestyle adjustments may help you avoid diabetes.
Healthy living includes:
Eating well
Choose meals rich in fibre and low in fat. Get your veggies and healthful grains.
Get moving
Make an effort to get at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular activity per week, such as walking or cycling.
Obesity
A slight weight loss and maintenance may postpone the onset of type 2 diabetes.
If you have prediabetes, decreasing 7-10% of your body weight may help you avoid diabetes.
Avoiding prolonged idleness Long-term inactivity raises the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Stretch your legs every 30 minutes by getting up and moving around.
Oral diabetic drug metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, etc) may be prescribed to prediabetics.
Obese elderly folks who cannot control their blood sugar levels with lifestyle adjustments.
I hope Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and the Difference were helpful and informative.
Please Leave any Questions and Comments Below and I will get back to you.
I had no idea that Type 1 diabetes had such an extensive range of negative impacts. I am also surprised that a cure has not been found to restore the insulin capability of people that suffer from this disease. I note that management of diet and being aware of your hereditary background can play major roles in determining the level of risk you have. I would be happy to hear more about the trials that you point to that potentially could reduce the impact of this disease
Thank you for your comment, only1hugh,
Diabetes patients might earn money by participating in clinical trials. Diabetes clinical trial volunteers help researchers discover new medicines that potentially assist millions of people. They may also help prevent or treat diabetes.
The more is found out about Type 1 and 2 diabetes the more likely a cure will be found at the moment there is no cure.
I hope this will help you
Elke
Thanks for this awesome article. My dad has type-2 and he has really gone through a lot because of this condition. I have a bit of a unique situation too you see…my old man’s body is almost broken, he can walk around, but he can run or anything like that. He is constantly in pain, he also has cancer, and the doctors have told him not to go outside because his skin will easily be agitated by the sun.
Any advice an helping him get better?
I use Panadol Osto (just buy from Chemist for pain because I have arthritis myself. I also have Diabetes type 2. I always watch my diet, and my diabetes is managed. I suggest that you talk to your dad’s doctor and ask him if he can be put on cannabis oil. Cannabis oil will help with the pain. It is safe to use. They usually give it to people who have cancer. Panadol Osto may not be strong enough to relieve the pain, but it is also worth trying.
I used to know about a lady who had cancer and she used cannabis oil and it relieved the pain.
I would suggest taking your dad outside early in the morning or late in the afternoon before the sun goes down because the sun is not so strong then. I am very fair-skinned and I can’t go in the sun myself but early in the morning or late in the afternoon before the sun goes down I do try to go outside for a while because we do get vitamin D from the sun and we need vitamin D in our body.
I hope this was helpful
If you have any more questions please do not hesitate to go get back to me and I will be willing to help you further.
Elke