Type 2 vs. Type 1 Diabetes: Understanding the Difference

Type 2 diabetes does not change into Type 1. Insulin injections are necessary if you are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and may become necessary for Type 2 diabetics, but the initial diagnosis will never change.

Significance

• According to WebMD, more than 20 million Americans have diabetes. Of those, 90 to 95 percent have Type 2 diabetes.

The Facts

• The food you eat is turned into glucose (sugar), which then moves through your body in your blood. Insulin, a hormone, helps the glucose enter your body's cells for fuel. Without insulin, cells will not allow glucose to enter, and your body will literally starve.

Identification

• Diabetes develops when the pancreas is not producing insulin, producing too little, or when cells become insulin-resistant.

Types

• In Type 1 diabetes---also known as juvenile diabetes---the immune system kills the insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The onset is sudden and permanent. Type 2 occurs when the pancreas quits working efficiently or cells become insulin-resistant. Type 2 diabetes progresses slowly and is sometimes reversible, according to WebMD.

Cause

• The American Diabetes Association says the cause of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is unknown, but genetics and viruses may play a role in Type 1. Excess body weight and inactivity may be contributing factors for Type 2.