Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes - Difference and Comparison

Also Compare

Cameras Cars Cell Phones GPS Systems Processors Tennis Players more..

From Diffen

	Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
Affected age group:	Between 5 - 25 (maximum numbers in this age group; Type 1 can affect at any age)	40+
Common physical attributes found:	None	Overweight
Symptoms:	increased thirst & urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision and extreme tiredness	feeling tired or ill, frequent urination (especially at night), unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections and slow wound healing
Affecting Factors:	genetic, environmental and auto-immune factors	genetic, physical inactivity & environmental
Affection prone ethnic groups:	All	African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander with American heritage (these contribute to the majority; Type 2 has been traced in other ethnic groups also)
Cure:	None	Physical exercise, healthy loss of weight & diet control
Treatment:	Insulin Injections	diet, exercise, weight loss, and in many cases medication. Insulin Injections may also be used
Mostly found in:	Children/teens - reason for other name "Juvenile Onset" before the age of 30.	Adults - reason for other name "Adult Onset"
You have this when:	Your body makes too little or no insulin	Your body can produce insulin but does not use it properly or at all.
Dependency:	Insulin Dependent	Insulin Independent
Estimated percentage of occurance:	5% -10%	90% - 95%

1 What is diabetes?
- 1.1 You have diabetes because either:
2 Conditions & Treatments
3 Managing your Blood Glucose
4 Type 1 Diabetes vs. Type 2 Diabetes
5 When do you get type 1/type 2 diabetes?

[edit] What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.

[edit] You have diabetes because either:

Your body makes too little or no insulin. This is called type 1 diabetes.
Your body can't use the insulin it makes. This is called type 2 diabetes.

With little or no insulin, glucose builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. This causes high blood glucose levels. When this happens, you may:

Feel tired
Be thirsty
Urinate often
Be hungry
Be moody

You may also:

Lose weight
Have blurry vision
Get infections

Over the long term, abnormally high blood glucose levels can lead to conditions called impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, or diabetes. These conditions, when left untreated, can lead to:

kidney failure
heart disease
impotence
blindness
amputation

[edit] Conditions & Treatments

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, which is needed to take sugar (glucose) from the blood to the cells. You can learn more about these conditions and how to prevent them in this section. You will also find helpful information about insulin, diagnostic tests and tips on what to expect from your health care provider.

Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, can happen even during those times when you're doing all you can to manage your diabetes.

Hyperglycemia: Hyperglycemia is a major cause of many of the complications that happen to people who have diabetes. For this reason, it's important to know what hyperglycemia is, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it.

Ketoacidosis: Ketoacidosis is a serious condition where the body has dangerously high levels of ketones -- or acids that build up in the blood -- and it can lead to diabetic coma (passing out for a long time) or even death.

[edit] Managing your Blood Glucose

Keeping your blood glucose as close to normal as possible helps you feel better and reduces the risk of long-term complications of diabetes. Learn about checking your blood glucose, tight diabetes control, and an A1C test.

Transplantation: Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant. There are also pancreas transplants, as well as islet cell transplants.

[edit] Type 1 Diabetes vs. Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body is unable to use food for energy in the right way. Most children with diabetes have type 1, previously called juvenile onset. Currently we are also seeing a rise in type 2 or "adult onset" in children.

To Insulin or Not to Insulin?: Type 1 (a.k.a. juvenile-onset or insulin dependent) diabetes develops due to a virus or autoimmune disorder in which the body does not recognize an organ as its own and attacks it. To be exact the body's immune system destroys certain cells in the pancreas. Those so-called beta cells make insulin, a hormone that prompts cells to absorb glucose. Because of this disorder the body stops making insulin. When the body doesn't produce or process enough insulin, it causes an excess of the blood sugar glucose. Glucose, the body's main source of energy, comes from the food we eat and is also produced by the liver and muscles. And when the body's level of glucose is too high, that is the chronic condition known as diabetes. Because people with Type 1 diabetes can’t produce insulin, they are required to take insulin every day. Type 2 (a.k.a. adult-onset or non insulin dependent) diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:

Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Because of low level of Insulin, the body is unable to keep the sugar in the blood within a "normal" range. Type 2 diabetes is treated initially with meal planning and exercise. Sometimes medications need to be added to keep blood glucoses in the "target" range.

Who gets it?: Only about 5%-10% of diagnosed diabetes cases are type 1. The disease is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can strike at any age. Scientists do not know yet exactly what causes it but suspect the disease involves a combination of genetic, environmental and autoimmune factors.

A person who is overweight, does not exercise and is over 30 or if the person has close relatives who have Type 2 diabetes has a very high risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Higher-risk ethnic groups include African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander American heritage.

[edit] When do you get type 1/type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is most common in kids or young adults. However, this type can develop at any time.
Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people who are 40, overweight, and have a family history of type 2 diabetes. However, more and more kids are developing type 2 diabetes.

[edit] Symptoms

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision and extreme tiredness.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear gradually and are vaguer than those associated with type 1 diabetes. Symptoms include feeling tired or ill, frequent urination (especially at night), unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections and slow wound healing.

[edit] Fixing it

Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes type 1 yet. However, researchers are working hard to find an answer. Meal planning, exercise, and control of blood sugars can help to prevent problems related to diabetes. As for Type 2, there are more answers. Habits like not exercising or eating junk food need to be altered! For those who are overweight, losing even a small amount of weight and adding exercise can steer them away from medications.

[edit] Treatment

Type 1 Diabetes patients are required to take insulin injections to move sugar from the bloodstream.
Type 2 Diabetes patients can use diet, exercise, weight loss, and in many cases medication as the treatment. Occasionally, someone with Type 2 may be placed on insulin to better control blood sugar. This type of diabetes is associated with physical inactivity and obesity.

[edit] Commonalities

People with type 1 and 2 experience many of the same symptoms. They also both need to keep close tabs on the amount of sugar in their blood. It’s also very important for people with type 1 and 2 to keep in close contact with their diabetes specialist (a.k.a. endocrinologist). Your doctor works with other professionals (diabetes nurse educators, dietitian educator) to give you the best care possible. You should see your treatment team at least once every three months.

Retrieved from "http://www.diffen.com/difference/Type_1_Diabetes_vs_Type_2_Diabetes"