An In-Depth Look At Diabetes Type 1 & 2
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Both types of diabetes are chronic diseases related to the way that your body regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Glucose is what gives each cell in your body energy. But to enter these cells, glucose needs insulin.
People who have type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin at all, whereas people with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough – or their bodies don’t respond to insulin in the ways that it should. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cells responsible for insulin production have been destroyed.
Both types of diabetes are dangerous if left untreated, and can have the same complications – having cuts or sores that don’t heal properly, feeling fatigued or dizzy, mood changes, or fluctuations in weight. Diabetes damages all systems from the nervous system to bones and connective tissues.
What Are The Differences Between Type 1 And 2?
Many of the symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes are similar, but they can appear in different ways and timelines.
Many people with type 2 diabetes do not present symptoms for many years – and their symptoms will generally develop slowly over a period of time. Many people with type 2 diabetes aren’t aware that they have it until they experience some form of complication. There is a very large group of people with ‘pre-diabetes’; this is a strong risk factor for the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Those with type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, will experience a faster onset of symptoms. It’s often known as “juvenile diabetes” as this type of diabetes typically develops in childhood. It is possible to develop type 1 diabetes later in life, though it is rare.
Both types of diabetes are different in their root causes, but eventually, the effects are the same. If left untreated, serious complications can occur, such as nerve, heart, and eye damage.
What Causes Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is actually a type of autoimmune disease. In type 1 diabetics, the immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. After these cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin at all – leading to diabetes.
Those who develop type 2 diabetes have what’s called insulin resistance. This means that while their bodies produce insulin, it doesn’t use it properly. When you develop type 2 diabetes – usually due to chronic inflammation, from diet or lifestyle factors – your pancreas will try to compensate by producing more insulin.
Since your body is unable to use this insulin effectively, glucose accumulates in your bloodstream, leading to the common symptoms of diabetes.
Treatment Options
In type 1 diabetes, patients will manage their symptoms for the rest of their lives. They will either wear an insulin pump or inject insulin daily.
Type 2 diabetes, unlike type 1, can actually be reversed with the right changes to diet and exercise, though it is not guaranteed.
This blog is meant to be a brief overview of these types of diabetes; this was not meant to replace consultation and treatment with a physician.
If you need help managing the symptoms of your diabetes, and want to learn more about how you can avoid complications associated with this disease, make your appointment with Warner Orthopedics & Wellness today:
