Diabetes is thought to affect 422 million people around the world. It is a disease that causes high blood sugar levels – which is untreated can lead to poor blood flow and fatal damage to various organs around the body.
Not all diabetes has the same causes and treatments. In fact, there are two types of diabetes, each of which is managed in a slightly different way. These are known as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This post describes the difference between the two.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is typically genetic and is something many people are born with – although some people can develop it later in life. It is an autoimmune disease characterised by the immune system attacking the pancreas and preventing it from producing insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that helps convert blood sugar into energy. Because those with type 1 can’t produce insulin, blood sugar levels quickly become dangerously high. Insulin injections must be taken to survive.Â
Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood. Common type 1 diabetes symptoms to look out for include excessive thirst, frequent urination, low energy levels, weight loss and sometimes blurry vision. Kids with type 1 diabetes may continuously ask for drinks, may constantly use the toilet/wet the bed and regularly take naps or be too tired to play. Taking your child to a doctor as soon as possible is recommended – a blood sugar test can then be carried out and insulin can be prescribed (if they do indeed have diabetes).
Not everyone develops type 1 diabetes in childhood. In fact, many adults can be diagnosed with this disease too. The same symptoms can be expected in adulthood: excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss and occasionally blurred vision.Â
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes still produce insulin, but they don’t produce enough to regulate blood sugar levels.
Type 2 can be genetic, but is often caused by lifestyle factors (which can include poor diet, smoking and heavy drinking). Being overweight is a big risk factor, while pregnancy can also trigger type 2 diabetes.Â
Those with type 2 diabetes may experience many of the same symptoms as those with type 1 (e.g. thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, weight loss and blurred vision). However, whereas type 1 symptoms appear quickly, type 2 symptoms may start to occur gradually over many years.Â
How do you treat type 2 diabetes? Unlike type 1 patients, those with type 2 diabetes don’t always need insulin injections. However, medication may be recommended to help the body produce more insulin. Lifestyle changes such as consuming less sugar, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can also help reduce blood sugar levels and help the pancreas to work more efficiently. A doctor will be able to advise you as to the best course of action to take. Daily blood sugar tests are recommended to help regulate your blood sugar levels.