Introduction
Many individuals confuse the two types of diabetes. Even those there are a lot of similarities between the two conditions there is also a lot that sets the two apart. These differences mean a lot to those who actually suffer from either condition. The first step to differentiating the two conditions is by fully understanding the disease.
What is diabetes type 1?
Diabetes type 1 is a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone in the body that is needed to allow sugar to enter cells in order to produce energy. The symptoms of an individual with diabetes type one may include increased thirst, frequent urination, nocturnal urination, increased hunger, weight loss irritability, mood swings, fatigue, weakness, and blurry vision. The cause of this condition can be linked to genetics and even some viruses. Diabetes type one usually appears during an individual’s childhood their adolescence stage, however it is also known to occur in adults. There is also no known way to prevent type one diabetes. Even with research, type 1 diabetes has no known cure. However, there is treatment that focuses on managing blood sugar levels with insulin therapy as well as diet and lifestyle changes in order to prevent complications. These complication can lead to Heart and blood vessel disease, Nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage and pregnancy problems. There also may be damage to nerves that can affect the gastrointestinal tract which can lead to problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Diabetes type one may lead to infections of the skin and mouth. Gum disease and dry mouth also are more likely to occur. For men, erectile dysfunction may be another complication.
What is diabetes type 2?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar which is needed to produce energy. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin, a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells, or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. The symptoms of this condition are increased thirst, frequent urination, Increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, areas of darkened skin, slow-healing sores and frequent infections. The cause of this condition is currently unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as excess weight and inactivity, seem to be the most likely factors. Complications of this may condition include Heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, hearing problems, skin conditions, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are methods to prevent this disease such as by eating healthy foods and physical exercise.
Similarities
The symptoms for both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are identical in most ways. Both conditions involve three distinct symptoms prior to diagnosis which includes excessive urination, excessive thirst, and excessive hunger.
There are also similar complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, eye failure and nerve damage.
Lastly, exercise increases insulin sensitivity in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Differences
The biggest differences in both types of diabetes in the type of disorder the disease is. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body has attacked and destroyed the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body still produces insulin, just not enough and is often coupled with insulin resistance and impaired carbohydrate metabolism.
Usually, when first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, most patients report losing a substantial amount of weight. This is usually due to the lack of insulin required to transport the nutrients needed to maintain weight/lean tissue. However, in type 2 diabetes, there is often weight gain prior to diagnosis. This could be largely due to the increased insulin resistance. In regards to medication for type 1 diabetes, there is usually a long acting insulin and a rapid acting insulin for meals and blood sugar correction. In type 2 diabetes, the type of medication prescribed is in order to help the body’s tissues to become more receptive to insulin.
Lastly, even though there is no absolute way to prevent diabetes, there is a possibility to prevent or at least delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in some individual however there is no prevention method for type 1 diabetes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, diabetes type one and diabetes type two are similar but also very distinct conditions. These condition differ from the type of condition to the symptoms that are associated to the disease. However, when one fully understands the qualities of these two diseases the knowledge required to maintain a fully functional lifestyle will become a walk in the park.