The Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
- Joyce Giammattei, DrPH, RD, CDE
Question
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Answer
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Only 5-10 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and other unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease.
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells become resistant to the insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It occurs in about 90-95 percent of all cases of diabetes. It was previously known as adult onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors.
Using insulin does not mean you have type 1 or "the bad type of diabetes". People with type 2 diabetes may also be using insulin to manage their blood sugar. There is no such thing as the "good" or "bad" type of diabetes. Both types of diabetes greatly increase a person's risk of developing complications if blood sugars are not well controlled.
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