Type 1 and 2 Diabetes

There are many differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including:

Type 1: This form of diabetes is a lifelong disease that arises from the pancreas’ inability to produce enough insulin. This lack of insulin means that the body cannot control its blood glucose levels. The cells of the body are starving for sugar even if the patient has been eating enough food. This form of diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes because of its prevalence in kids and young adults. The exact cause remains unknown.

Type 2: This form of diabetes is a lifelong disease that is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood. The reason for this is that the body is unable to properly respond to insulin, called insulin resistance. When sugar, or glucose, cannot enter the cells, abnormally high levels of the compound buildup in the blood but the cells do not absorb it. Family history and diet can play a large role in Type 2 diabetes and overweight individuals are much more likely to suffer from the disease.