What is the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes?
Insulin removes excess sugar from your bloodstream by transporting it into cells that need the energy or sending it to be stored as fat. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes both occur when a problem with insulin causes high levels of blood sugar, but there are differences between the forms:
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder permanently damages cells in the pancreas so it can’t produce insulin. This form of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
Type 2 diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas secretes too little insulin and too much of a hormone that keeps blood sugar high. People with type 2 diabetes also have insulin resistance, which means their bodies don’t respond to the insulin that’s produced.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Both types of diabetes share the same symptoms, but in type 1 diabetes they occur suddenly, while they take years to develop in type 2 diabetes. The symptoms include:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hunger
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Tingling in feet or hands
What health complications develop due to uncontrolled diabetes?
When blood sugar stays higher than normal, it damages your blood vessels and nerves. This causes health complications such as:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Wounds that won’t heal
- Skin infections
- Nerve damage, especially in feet and eyes
Medical management
People with type 1 diabetes have to diligently take insulin and monitor their blood sugar levels. Those with type 2 diabetes may need insulin, but often they can control blood sugar with one of the other prescription medications available.