How is type 1 diabetes different to type 2 diabetes? Firstly, let's explain what diabetes is. It is a group of metabolic diseases where people have high blood sugar and the reason for this is that the body does not produce enough of the hormone called insulin or because the body's cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.
There are three main types of this disease and they are:
- Type 1 diabetes - this is where the body fails to produce any insulin at all and requires insulin injections daily to survive
- Type 2 diabetes - this is where the body is insulin resistant, which means that the body's cells fail to use the insulin properly
- Gestational diabetes - this is when a pregnant women who has never had diabetes before will develop a high blood glucose during pregnancy, which can later in life develop into type 2 diabetes
Knowing this information we can now understand that type 1 is when no insulin is produced at all and type 2 produces insulin but does not efficiently move the sugar through the bloodstream.
Type 1 diabetes is known as an autoimmune disease, this is where the body actually attacks its own cells. The main organ the body attacks when you have type 1 is the pancreas, which as we know produces insulin. The beta cells that produce insulin in the pancreas are destroyed by the body, which means it has no insulin.
The insulin hormone is what helps to regulate the amount of sugar in your body. Without having insulin in your body the sugar cannot be absorbed and that will cause your blood sugar levels to rise. This is why a person with type requires insulin injections so that they can control the sugar levels in their body. Type 1 usually occurs in children as young as 11, where sadly others are born with this condition.
Type 2 diabetes is known as an autoimmune disorder, this is where the body does not produce enough insulin. This will cause your blood sugar to be out of control and you will require medication to maintain normal blood sugar levels. The best way to manage your blood sugar levels is through a healthy well-balanced diet and regular exercise. Type 2 usually occurs in people that are 40 years and over.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done if you have type 1 and there is no way of preventing this type of diabetes. Type 2 can be prevented and maintained through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
The difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is significant, however both can be maintained well enough so that you can live your life relatively well.
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