Type 1 Vs. Type 2 Diabetes

-

Introduction

    A lot of the time, people who don't have diabetes, don't even know there are two types of diabetes.  I have been compared to type 2 diabetics, but the reality is, the two different types just aren't managed the same.  Through this article, I hope to clear up the main differences between the two.

Type 1

    Type 1 diabetes is a hereditary disease.  It occurs because the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the Beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.  The immune system gets confused and doesn't recognize these Beta cells.  Thus, the Beta cells are destroyed, and the pancreas no longer can produce insulin.  There is no currently available cure for type 1 diabetes: only methods of treating the disease.

Type 2

    With Type 2, there is something different that occurs.  The pancreas still produces insulin, but the body is resistant to it (in other terms, the body can't absorb or use the insulin).  The insulin is there for the body to use, but the body isn't able to absorb the insulin.  Most of the time, this disease can be cured through weight loss and diet changes as type 2 diabetes is usually caused by obesity.  

Reflection

    You can see the fundamental difference between the two types of diabetes is whether or not the body can produce insulin or not.  Both types usually use some sort of insulin injection, but there is a main difference in how the two times are treated.  The goal of aiding with type 2 diabetes is to lose weight and eat healthier in order make the body no longer resistant to the insulin that is already there.  With type 1, there is no insulin in the first placed so injections or an insulin pump are needed.



For a more scientific explanation of the differences, click here to view the diabetes.org.uk site.
Alternatively, click here to view the healthline.com site.



If you have any questions about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes or want more information about my experience, feel free to contact me!  This is done by clicking the "Contact" link at the top of the page and filling out the form. Or you can always leave a comment below!

If you are interested in purchasing merch such as t-shirts, a mug, and a hat from DiabeticDecipher, use the link provided to view useful, everyday products branded with a logo made by DiabeticDecipher!  

https://www.cafepress.com/diabetestalk

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Take Your Pick - Insulin Delivery Methods

-
Image
Introduction:      Caring for type 1 diabetes comes in many different forms and there is not one set way that works for everyone.  Personally, I have tried a variety of different methods that I have tried and experimented with.  All of the methods that I mention in this post I have personally used.  The main point I want to get across here is that until you have your body figured out, it is all trial and error.  And trust me, there will be A LOT of error at the beginning.  The important thing is that you don't get discouraged and simply try new methods until one clicks.  My goal with this post is to teach how to use each delivery method and share my personal experience with each. Insulin Delivery: Syringe and Vile     When I was first diagnosed, I started out being taught how to use the syringe and vial method for insulin delivery.  It was important to start out by learning this method because when moving to other insulin delivery methods in the future, the syringe and vial can be
Read more

T1D and Alcohol

-
Image
 Introduction     Drinking alcohol while being diabetic obviously comes with a risk.  But, as does almost anything else, including eating.  In this post, we will be going over both sides to whether or not alcohol should be consumed while being a diabetic. It Should Be Avoided     One side to the argument is that alcohol should be avoided because it makes the blood sugar unpredictable.  Like many other aspects of diabetes, there isn't a fool-proof method that works for everyone.  Alcohol can have different effects for different people.  Personally, alcohol makes my blood sugar drop several hours after I start drinking.  It can be a scary issue because if I'm in a place where I don't have access to carbohydrates or something to eat/drink to raise my blood sugar, then I obviously wouldn't be able to get my blood sugar back up.  I really don't drink often but when I do, I make sure to have plans in place to prevent a situation like that form happening.  But, sometimes p
Read more

The Cure

-
Image
Introduction   Type 1 diabetes has been a disease since the ancient Egyptian times.  Will there be a day when we have a cure for the disease? It seems to be a hot topic about once a year where there are claims that we are getting close to a cure, but no results have been uncovered yet. How is it Done?      In order for a cure to be made for type 1 diabetes, a solution to the underlying problem needs to be presented.  In other words, a cure for type 1 diabetes would need to make the body produce insulin again and ensure whatever made it stop originally wouldn't happen again.   This seems like it would be a daunting task as there is a lot of unknown information, obviously.   What We Have Today      There isn't a cure for diabetes yet but with technology, we are very close to a cure.  Through the use of insulin pumps and CGM's (continuous glucose monitors) it makes managing one's diabetes a lot easier and more automated.  The pump can increase insulin doses if the CGM read
Read more