Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is typically a lifelong chronic illness. It occurs in men and women, adults and children. If the body is producing no insulin whatsoever, this condition is known as Type 1 diabetes. However, over 80 percent of all individuals diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2. This is the more common of the two.
Before taking a look at what differentiates each type of diabetes, it’s essential to know what this disease is. When the body cannot normally maintain insulin, this can lead to high levels of blood glucose. More than 20 million Americans suffer from some form of diabetes, and a shocking 6 million are unaware they are afflicted by this disease.
Individuals who have Type 1 diabetes might suffer from extreme fatigue and lethargy, along with an increase of thirst and urination. Quite often there will also be weight loss, even when the patient has a normal appetite and has been consuming a high level of calories.
In Type 2 diabetes, the body’s cellular structure is unresponsive to insulin. Other than feeling extremely tired, symptoms might include blurred vision and frequent thirst and urination. There is a two-step process to Type 2, in that not enough of a sufficient amount of insulin is being produced, and the insulin is not working accordingly.
People affected by Type 2 diabetes are often prone to infections from cuts and lesions. They may experience cuts which heal unusually slow, or occasionally open sores that do not heal completely. On the other end of the spectrum, in many cases Type 2 sufferers might not experience any particular symptoms at all. This is why it is extremely important for routine examinations which can identify problems and address issues early on.
Type 1 diabetes can begin with a sudden onset and the severity might warrant a trip to the hospital. If this condition goes on untreated for a long period, serious complications can result. These complications could include vision loss, kidney disease or even amputation of limbs. A prescription of regular insulin therapy will be needed to maintain life.
A main difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is the former is not preventable. It is not due to poor diet or obesity, as Type 2 is often attributed to. Conversely, with Type 2 diabetes, the patient has typically been in an unfit condition for a long period of time, and most often overweight as well.
While Type 1 typically will require insulin replacement, there is no known cure. However medical science has made significant advances in treatment, and if managed properly the patient can expect to live a relatively healthy life.
There are common misconceptions about this disease in both forms. Most commonly, people tend to believe diabetes is caused by consuming excessive sweets. This is untrue. Another misconception is when people assume there is a condition known as ‘borderline diabetes’. Again, this is a myth, as there is no such thing as having a ‘touch of diabetes’.
A health care provider can advise the patient with diabetes how to manage the condition. The main objective and goal is to carefully monitor blood glucose levels. This can be done through a personalized diet plan which should be strictly followed, as well as suggestions to improve fitness levels through regular exercise.