You might be aware that there are two types of diabetes, but what is the difference between type1 and type-2 diabetes?
To make it simple, people with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin while those who have type 2 diabetes could still produce insulin, but the hormone cannot perform its role. Think of it as type 1 being the absence of a key to your house while type 2 as having a key, but it is broken.
Symptoms of diabetes
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you will most likely go to the bathroom frequently to urinate. Since your body is unable to regulate the sugar level on the bloodstream, it is flashed out through urine.
As a result, you always feel thirsty and hungry. You also suffer from a dry mouth.
When you have cuts or sores, they do not quickly heal. Your blood is filled with a high amount of sugar which affects the ability of the platelets to perform blood clots.
Causes of diabetes
Although both types of diabetes have similar names, they exist for various reasons. Type 1 diabetes usually treats the healthy cells as foreign invaders.
The immune system kills these cells, including the ones producing insulin. It is still unclear though why the immune system reacts that way, and researches are ongoing to shed light on this issue.
Type 2 diabetes still allows the production of insulin, but it is not used effectively. Environmental factors may cause this type of diabetes, and it happens because the pancreas compensates for the body’s inability to process insulin.
For type 1 diabetes, the family’s history is usually the culprit. When one or more family members have the disease, the chances that it will affect the rest increase.
Anyone can have type 1 diabetes, but the chances are higher among children and adolescents. For type 2 diabetes, the chances increase if you have one immediate family member with type 2 diabetes.
When you are over 45 and you are physically inactive, it could also increase your chance of having diabetes. Obesity and increased belly fat are also other factors.
Although there are medicines to help regulate insulin in your body, it is also crucial that you focus on changing your lifestyle. You need to start by being physically active and doing more outdoor activities.
You also need to maintain a healthy weight by watching what you eat. Stop eating foods that have high unsaturated fat.
Eat a balanced diet and prefer healthy options like fruits and vegetables. Reduce your intake of sugary foods.
You can take the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test if you want to know if you have type 1 or 2 diabetes. The test determines the average sugar level on the blood. If the results show that you have 6.5 or higher, it indicates that you have diabetes.
There is no known cure for type 1 diabetes. Since your body does not produce insulin, you need regular injection. Insulin pumps are also an option. They supply a steady amount of insulin in your body using a small tube.
Type 2 diabetes might be controlled with regular exercise and healthy diet. However, if lifestyle changes cannot limit the impact of the problem, you can ask for extra support from your physician.
In both types of diabetes, it is crucial for you to monitor your blood sugar level regularly. Bring your insulin injection with you wherever you go since you do not know when you could suffer from extremely low levels of insulin.