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Which Is Worse Diabetes 1 Or 2


What Does Diabetes Do To The Body

Which is worse Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes? – Dr. Nagaraj S

People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, and as a result sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, where its needed for energy. In type 1 diabetes, high blood sugar causes symptoms like thirst, hunger, and fatigue and can cause devastating consequences, including damage to the nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs. The same scary complications of diabetes appear in type 2 as well. The difference is that people with type 2 diabetes still produce insulin their bodies just become less sensitive to it over time, which is what causes the complications.

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Is There An Age Where Im More At Risk Of Type 2

Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes as it was primarily seen in middle-aged adults over the age of 40.

However, in recent years, cases of type 2 diabetes have become more common in young adults, teens and children. This increase has been connected to climbing levels of obesity


What Is The Cause Of Dm

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesnt make enough insulin or cant effectively use the insulin it does make.

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Type 2 Diabetes And Complications

Like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes carries the risk of diabetes complications over time.

The most common complications of type 2 diabetes include:


In fact, by the time they are diagnosed, 50% of people with type 2 diabetes show early signs of these health conditions.

The list of complications, which also includes depression and sexual dysfunction, is not pleasant but their risks can be reduced through good diabetes control and attending all diabetic screening appointments.

As with many chronic diseases, early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is beneficial for treatment. Before type 2 diabetes develops, most patients exhibit pre-diabetic symptoms, and if treatment commences at this stage, diabetes of this type can be preventable.

  • Almost 1 in 3 people with type 2 diabetes develops overt kidney disease
  • Within 20 years of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, 60% of people diagnosed have some degree of retinopathy

In terms of short term complications of diabetes, ketoacidosis is rare amongst type 2 diabetics. However, non-ketonic hyperglycemia is one threat type 2 diabetics should be aware of.

Is Diagnosing Diabetes Types 1 And 2 Similar

What is worse type 1 or 2 diabetes?

Blood tests used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes include fasting blood sugar, a hemoglobin A1C test, and a glucose tolerance test. The A1C test measures the average blood sugar level over the past few months. The glucose tolerance test measures blood sugar after a sugary drink is given.


The blood sugar testing we do to diagnose and manage type 1 diabetes is very similar to the testing we do for type 2 diabetes, says Drincic. We can do a blood test that looks for antibodies. That tells us if it is type 1 or 2. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system makes antibodies that act against the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, and these antibodies can be detected in a blood test. Your doctor may suspect type 2 diabetes based on your symptoms and risk factors, such as obesity and family history.

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Type 1 Vs Type 2 Diabetes: Whats The Difference

Type 2 diabetes is not the same as Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesnt make any insulin. In Type 2, your pancreas doesnt make enough insulin, and the insulin it is making doesnt always work as it should. Both types are forms of diabetes mellitus, meaning they lead to hyperglycemia .

Type 2 diabetes usually affects older adults, though its becoming more common in children. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but people of any age can get it.

Medicines For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition and usually gets worse over time. Making lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your diet and taking more exercise, may help you control your blood glucose levels at first, but may not be enough in the long term.


You may eventually need to take medication to help control your blood glucose levels.

Initially, this will usually be in the form of tablets and can sometimes be a combination of more than one type of tablet. It may also include insulin or another medication that you inject.

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What Are Key Differences Between Type 1 Diabetes And Type 2 Diabetes

When comparing type 1 vs type 2 diabetes, there are a few major differences:


  • Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. You cant reverse type 1 diabetes, you can only manage it. Type 2 diabetes can be reversed with effective intervention and lifestyle changes.
  • In type 1 diabetes, your pancreas is unable to produce insulin, whereas in type 2 diabetes, your insulin production is limited, and the response of your body to that insulin is decreased.
  • A person with type 1 diabetes could die without their insulin medication. A person with type 2 diabetes should avoid treatment with insulin, unless their pancreas is completely failing.

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How Type 1 Diabetes Develops

Diabetes 1 and 2 – Which Diabetes is Worse? | Hands on Review

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means it results from the immune system mistakenly attacking parts of the body. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the immune system incorrectly targets insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Nobody knows why this occurs, or how to stop it. The immune systems of people with type 1 diabetes continue to attack beta cells until the pancreas is incapable of producing insulin.

People with type 1 diabetes need to inject themselves with insulin to compensate for the death of their beta cells. Everyone with type 1 diabetes is insulin-dependent.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes tend to develop slowly over time. They can include:

Rarely, Type 2 diabetes leads to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis . DKA is a life-threatening condition that causes your blood to become acidic. People with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to have DKA.

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Should Diabetics Drink Coffee Or Tea

They found that people who increased their coffee intake by over one cup per day had an 11 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, people who reduced their coffee intake by one cup per day increased their risk of developing diabetes by 17 percent. There was no difference in those drinking tea.

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Diabetes Sick Day Rules

If you need to take insulin to control your diabetes, you should have received instructions about looking after yourself when you’re ill known as your “sick day rules”.

Contact your diabetes care team or GP for advice if you haven’t received these.

The advice you’re given will be specific to you, but some general measures that your sick day rules may include could be to:

  • keep taking your insulin it’s very important not to stop treatment when you’re ill your treatment plan may state whether you need to temporarily increase your dose
  • test your blood glucose level more often than usual most people are advised to check the level at least four times a day
  • keep yourself well hydrated make sure you drink plenty of sugar-free drinks
  • keep eating eat solid food if you feel well enough to, or liquid carbohydrates such as milk, soup and yoghurt if this is easier
  • check your ketone levels if your blood glucose level is high

Seek advice from your diabetes care team or GP if your blood glucose or ketone level remains high after taking insulin, if:


  • you’re not sure whether to make any changes to your treatment
  • you develop symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis
  • you have any other concerns

Read more about sick day rules

The Nhs And Type 2 Diabetes

Which is worse Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is already one of the most common long term health conditions and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UK is growing year on year.

The cost of treating a growing number of people with type 2 diabetes, and the health complications associated with the condition, is estimated to cost the NHS around £12 billion a year on direct and indirect care.

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Causes Symptoms Diagnosis And Treatments

Never mind the second-place namemore than 90 percent of people with diabetes have Type 2. And a substantial number dont even know they have it. So, what are its giveaway symptoms? How do you avoid complications? Will the right diet help you reverse it? Were here to empower you with clear answers to all your pressing Qs.

In This Article:

What Is Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes was previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus , or adult onset diabetes mellitus . People who have type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin, but do so relatively inadequately for their body’s needs. Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in individuals over 30 years of age, and its incidence increases with advancing age. In contrast, type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in young people.

Genetics plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, and having a family history and close relatives with the condition increases your risk however, there are other risk factors, with obesity being the most significant. There is a direct relationship between the degree of obesity and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both children and adults. It has been estimated that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes doubles for every 20% increase over desirable body weight.

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What Is The Life Expectancy Of Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes

The life expectancy of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes depends on a number of factors such as the individual, the length of the disease, lifestyle measures adopted, medications and drugs were taken, complications which diabetes might lead to, amongst others.

On an average, patients who have type 1 diabetes have reduced life span by as much as 20 years, while those suffering from type 1 have their average life reduced by around 10 years. Also, results of one of the studies conducted by the University of Pittsburgh suggest that those born after 1965 and having type 1 diabetes have a life expectancy of around 69 years.

Here, you need to remember that the above figures are just an average of those who suffer from diabetes. These estimates might include those who might not have taken care of the disease and might not have taken any type of medical assistance as well. Today, there are a lot of treatments available that can go a long way in prolonging the life span of diabetes patients.

Is Diabetes Treatment Different Too

Which Is Worse, Type 1 or Type 2?

A good diabetes diet and regular exercise matters for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Knapp explains. “The big difference is that everybody with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin, she says. People with type 1 diabetes need to check their blood sugar level with a device called a glucometer about four times a day to know how much insulin to take.”

Treatment for type 2 diabetes also starts with diet and exercise, and oral medication can also be used to increase the amount of insulin the pancreas makes, Knapp says. “Over time, if the pancreas stops making insulin, some people with type 2 will also need insulin.” People with type 2 diabetes also need to check their blood sugar, from one to several times a day, depending on their state of health.


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Is Juvenile Diabetes Type 1 Or Type 2

Until recently, the common type of diabetes in children and teens was type 1. It was called juvenile diabetes. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin well.

Then, is juvenile diabetes the same as Type 1?

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar to enter cells to produce energy.

Also Know, what is difference between diabetes type 1 and 2? People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. You can think of this as having a broken key. Both types of diabetes can lead to chronically high blood sugar levels.


Keeping this in view, which is worse type 1 or type 2 diabetes?

In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production from the body. This is called insulin resistance. As type 2 diabetes gets worse, the pancreas may make less and less insulin. This is called insulin deficiency.

Can a teenager get type 2 diabetes?

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Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes

To diagnose type 1 diabetes youll need to get blood tests done, one of which is called an A1C screening. A1C screenings measure your blood sugar levels from the past two to three months and can be used to diagnose type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Life Line Screening also offers an A1C screening from the privacy of you own home through our home tests. You can learn more here.

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What Are The Differences Between The Causes Of Type 1 And Type 2

Type 1 diabetes causes

Type 1 diabetes is believed to be due to an autoimmune process, in which the body’s immune system mistakenly targets its own tissues . In people with type 1 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production are attacked by the misdirected immune system. This tendency for the immune system to destroy the beta cells of the pancreas is likely to be, at least in part, genetically inherited, although the exact reasons that this process happens are not fully understood.

Exposure to certain viral infections or other environmental toxins have been suggested as possible reasons why the abnormal antibody responses develop that cause damage to the pancreas cells.

Type 2 diabetes causes

Both diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2, require good control over their diet by eating foods that help regulate blood sugar, exercise, and in most patients, medical treatments to allow the patient to remain in good health.

The Initial Causes Which Is Worse Diabetes 1 Or 2

Is Type 1 or 2 diabetes worse?

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition in many people. This type is caused by a lack of insulin and is a result of an unhealthy lifestyle. The bodys inability to process glucose from the blood can damage many parts of the body, including the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid diabetes. Here are five tips to help you lower your risk: Eat more vegetables and fruits, get regular exercise, and avoid smoking.

High levels of triglycerides in the blood are another factor that can cause diabetes. These triglycerides are caused by a buildup of cholesterol in the blood. A high triglyceride level causes the body to misrepresent insulin as a molecule, which causes glucose to build up in the blood. A simple blood glucose test can confirm your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. By following these tips, you can begin living a healthy life and avoid the complications of diabetes.

A person with type 2 diabetes must consume less sugar. Glucose causes thirst and dehydration because the body releases energy stores into the bloodstream instead of using insulin. If untreated, diabetes can lead to weight loss and diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition whereby the cells are deprived of energy. To prevent the condition, you must make sure that your diet is low in glycemic load and that you exercise regularly.

Type 1 diabetes causes

Type 2 diabetes causes

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Other Forms Of Diabetes

In 1% to 5% of people who have diabetes, other conditions might be the cause. These include diseases of the pancreas, certain surgeries and medications, and infections. In these cases, your doctor might want to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.

Show Sources

American Diabetes Association: “Frequently Asked Questions about Pre-Diabetes,” “Type 2 Diabetes,” “The Dangerous Toll of Diabetes,” tion: “Gestational Diabetes,” “About Insulin and Other Drugs.”

National Library of Medicine: “Diabetes.”

National Diabetes Education Project: “About Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes.”

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse : “National Diabetes Statistics, 2011.”

Merck Manual Consumer Version: âDiabetes Mellitus .â

CDC: âAbout Diabetes,â âPrediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes.â

World Journal of Diabetes: âType 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents.â

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