Know the differences between type 1 and type 2 Diabetes with this helpful information from BetterHealthKare.com
The statistics associated with diabetes makes a strong case for learning more about the signs and symptoms of diabetes and what is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Every year an estimated 1.4 million Americans receive a diabetes diagnosis. Even more concerning is that diabetes is listed as the underlying cause of death on more than 234,000 death certificates. Still, the similarities and difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes or what diabetes is remains a mystery to many. Many of these in the dark about what is diabetes may already be prediabetic. In fact, according to statistics from the American Diabetes Association, in a 2012 survey, at least 89,000 million Americans between 20 years of age and older had prediabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Staff at the Mayo Clinic describe diabetes as a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Although chronic diabetes typically refers to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, this condition does not always play to type. Scientist have also identified five other forms of diabetes and many people with type 2 diabetes may or may not manifest symptoms right away. Still type 1 and type 2 diabetes remains the most common forms of this disease.
Glucose is the primary player that mark the similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The body’s energy source is derived when food is turned into glucose (sugar). Abnormalities in glucose levels is an indicator of a malfunction in the body’s pancreatic system. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin which is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose that is supplied to vital cells in the body such as tissues, muscles and the brain.
A diabetic diagnosis is received when “beta cells” in the body are damaged or malfunction. This impairment may stop production of insulin or cause an insufficient amount of insulin to be produced or released when it is needed. The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes often rest with the reason for the beta cell damage or malfunction.
Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
The primary differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is with:
- The body’s ability to produce and utilize insulin.
- Cause of the disease; and
- The Onset of symptoms
Type 1 diabetes is recognized by the scientific community as an autoimmune disease. Although the exact cause of type 1 diabetes has not been clearly isolated, gene inheritance and environment are believed to be the primary contributing factors that cause the development of type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attack and destroys beta cells that are responsible for insulin production. The destruction of beta cells prevents insulin production making it necessary for the individual to frequently monitor glucose levels and take insulin.
Although family history may also play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, lifestyle factors such as poor diet, inactivity and excess weight are recognized as the most significant players in the development of this particular strain of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas release more insulin, but instead of moving into the cells, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. Overtime, Beta cells that are exposed to elevated glucose levels malfunction.
While the body is still able to produce insulin in Type 2 diabetes, it becomes desensitized and therefore not able to utilize it effectively. People with type 2 diabetes can manage this condition with lifestyle changes and medication. A promising research study published in the American Journal of Physiology indicate that cell recovery occurs periodically in to a low-glucose environment for people with type 2 diabetes. However, cell recovery can quickly be lost if glucose levels become elevated.
Symptomatic differences also differentiate type 1 from type 2 diabetes. For instance, the sudden onset of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes occurs when sugar levels become elevated. In type 2 diabetes, symptoms of the disease may not show up for years and sometimes long after the diabetic condition has already caused damage to important functions in the body.
The insulin connection often cause the misconceptions that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same disease. However, the major similarities between type 1 and type two diabetes are the consequential complications and damage to internal organs, blood vessels and nerves that these conditions produce.
