Diabetes types.
Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, formerly called "juvenile diabetes" or "insulin dependent  diabetes", is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers or young adults. In this type of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer produce insulin, because the body's immune system has attacked and destroyed them.
Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, formerly called "adult onset" or "no insulin dependent diabetes", is the most common type of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.
Type 2 diabetes is, occasionally, defined as the form of diabetes that occurs, when the body does not respond properly to insulin, in distinction to type 1 diabetes in which the pancreas produces no insulin at all.
Insulin resistance occurs in diabetes type 2 and this is a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. Overtime, however, the pancreas loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to demand.
Obesity and sedentary lifestyle increases the chances for a person to develop type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance can also occur in people who have type 1 diabetes, especially if they are overweight. If one or more diabetes risk factors exist or if any of the signs and symptoms are present, it is strongly recommended for the individual to be screened. This is the only safe way for diabetes prevention or in time diagnosis.
Medication, proper diet and physical activity, in general, are the most essential parameters of diabetes treatment.
| Characteristics of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes |
| Type 1 Diabetes |
Type 2 Diabetes |
| Age of onset under forty years old, most common in children. Some older people may develop this type, though. |
Age of onset over forty years old, most common in adults. However, younger people may develop this type. |
| Normal body weight. |
Usually it occurs in overweight people but occasionally affects people of normal weight. |
| Quick onset with thirst, frequent urination and weight loss symptoms developing and deteriorating over days or weeks. |
Usually slow onset with thirst, frequent urination and unintentional weight loss signs developing over weeks, months or even years. |
| Usually there is no known family history but in rare cases there might be. |
It can be characterized a "silent disease". Usually runs in families. |
| No major risk factors. Risk is increased, if strong family history exists. |
Risk factors must be taken in consideration. |
| Usually more than one shot of insulin is needed daily to control blood glucose level. |
Treatment usually begins with diet and exercise, progressing to pills and later to insulin. |
| Difficult to keep fluctuating blood sugar in ideal range. |
Easier to control blood sugar range. |
| Blood sugar level is sensitive to small changes in diet, exercise and insulin dose. |
Blood sugar level may respond to weight loss, and/or change in diet and exercise. Blood sugar level may be less responsive to small changes in insulin dose. |
| Can be caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors that may trigger autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. |
Can be caused by combination of insulin resistance and deficiency of the insulin-producing beta pancreatic cells due to heredity. |
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