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

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and 88 million have pre-diabetes. However, only 10% of American diabetics have Type 1 diabetes, with the rest having Type 2. So what’s the difference, and how is each of these conditions treated, prevented, or caused?

While rarer, Type 1 diabetes is much more severe. This form of diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the cells that create insulin, eventually resulting in the pancreas shutting down. Most often diagnosed in childhood or at a young age, people with Type 1 diabetes are insulin reliant, meaning they have to inject insulin or use an insulin pump. Essentially, people with Type 1 diabetes are doing the job their pancreas used to.

On the other hand, people with Type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that while the body still makes insulin, it does not use it properly or is less effective. Some people with Type 2 diabetes need insulin injections; others take pills, like Metformin, and others still can manage the disease entirely through diet and exercise. Generally diagnosed later in life, the cause of Type 2 diabetes isn’t entirely clear, but there is a connection to weight and diet.

Even though both types of diabetes are treated and diagnosed quite differently, high and low blood sugar can occur in people with either kind of diabetes. If a person with diabetes has high blood sugar for a long time, it can damage the kidneys, eyes, and heart and result in a condition called neuropathy. Symptoms of neuropathy include pain in the legs and feet that varies from mild to severe. Another risk of high blood sugar is Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA.

DKA is rarer in Type 2 diabetics than in Type 1 diabetics. Symptoms of this condition include dehydration, weight loss, shortness of breath, and weakness. DKA is deadly if left untreated, and if you have these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical assistance.

Having high blood sugar for a long time is dangerous, but low blood sugar is also a concern. When your blood sugar is low, you might feel anxious, confused, or have shaky hands. Luckily, low blood sugar is quick to fix by having some soda, fruit juice, or another sugary snack of your choice. However, if your blood sugar is low for an extended period, you should contact your doctor.

There are significant differences between the two types of diabetes, and if you or a loved one have a family history with the disease, it’s essential to know what warning signs or treatment options you need to keep an eye on.