Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are two distinct conditions that have some similarities, but also many differences. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, while type 2 diabetes is mainly lifestyle related and develops over time. Both types of diabetes produce high blood glucose levels, but the causes, symptoms, and treatments vary. The main difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is that type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition that often manifests itself early in life, while type 2 is mainly lifestyle related and develops over time.
With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may experience irritability, mood swings, and involuntary weight loss. They may also have numbness and tingling in their hands or feet. Good glucose control significantly reduces the risk of developing numbness and tingling in a person with type 1 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Although many of the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar, they occur in very different ways.
Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes may have similar names, but they are different diseases with single causes. The main test used to diagnose both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is known as an A1C or glycated hemoglobin test. Type 1 diabetes usually presents with symptoms much earlier in life. In most cases, the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes will be made between the ages of two and fifteen. While most cases of type 2 diabetes occur when the individual is over 50 years old.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually occur suddenly. The individual may have a sudden fever, severe dehydration, frequent urination, ketones in the urine or even be in a coma, and medical tests will reveal a lack of insulin in the body. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even reversed with diet and exercise alone, but many people need extra support. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes and lifelong insulin treatment is required; on the other hand, with lifestyle changes, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be reduced or even completely eliminated. Type 2 treatment aims to keep your blood sugar at close to normal levels, prevent or delay complications, and manage other conditions you may have, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, along with regular exercise, can often help with type 2 diabetes.
Anyone with a diagnosis of prediabetes should also choose a healthy lifestyle, as this can reduce or eliminate the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In short, both types produce high blood glucose levels. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease caused by genetic and environmental factors that causes the body to produce too little insulin. Type 2 is influenced by lifestyle choices and causes the body to be unable to use its insulin efficiently. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, and type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5%.”Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are metabolic diseases that cause blood sugar to rise and inhibit insulin production.
Usually, both forms of diabetes intersect symptomatically, but they may appear at a different stage in life and have some key differences that differentiate them.
