What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? You’ll find the answers here. Let’s look at the similarities first. In both conditions, the body struggles to regulate the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Insulin has a role in both conditions, but the reasons why people with Type 1 and 2 diabetes need extra insulin can be slightly different.

In a Nutshell: What is the Difference Between Type 1 and 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body’s own antibodies target the pancreas. It usually starts becoming a problem during childhood, and no way has yet been found to prevent Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand is usually diagnosed later on in life and it is a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. The average age at which people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is 45.

The Role of Insulin in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

So, what is the role of insulin in all of this? Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. Its job is to help cells to absorb sugars from the bloodstream to use as a source of energy. It also “tells” the liver when to store sugars so that they can be used later. As the sugar in the blood gets used up, less insulin is produced, and in this way, blood sugar is balanced. When you have diabetes, blood sugar levels can go too high, causing damage to your blood vessels, organs, and nerves.

Type 1 Diabetes and Insulin

In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system wrongly identifies the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin as a threat and attacks them. Once these cells are destroyed, they cannot recover, and the pancreas can’t make any more insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin

In Type 2 diabetes, the cells in the body start becoming resistant to insulin and the pancreas responds by making even more insulin. Despite this, the insulin the body produces still isn’t enough to overcome the resistance. Sometimes, the pancreas begins to lose the ability to make enough insulin and it may even stop producing it altogether. Of the two types of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common. Ninety percent of people living with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.

What is the Difference Between Type 1 and 2 Diabetes Symptoms?

Type 1 and 2 diabetes symptoms are similar, but the big difference lies in the speed with which these symptoms develop. Type 1 diabetes usually develops quite quickly, and people feel quite unwell so it can be easier to realise something is wrong. Type 2 diabetes usually develops quite slowly, and since the changes are gradual, it’s a lot harder to notice them and recognise that you need to get help.

Symptoms include thirst, passing more urine, feeling tired, losing weight despite there being no change in calorie intake or exercise, being prone to thrush, slower wound healing, and blurred vision. It’s important to know your risk factors, look out for gradual changes, and get diabetes screening if you’re the least bit worried. The sooner you take action, the less damage your diabetes will do to your body.

Difference Between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2: Risk Factors

Type 1 diabetes begins in the genes. But what triggers it? Scientists are still working to find out. They’re hoping that they might be able to delay, prevent, or even cure Type 1 diabetes in the future, but this work is still far from complete. For now, we simply have to accept that having close family members with Type 1 diabetes is the primary risk factor.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is different. Several risk factors have been identified. Being overweight is a major factor, and if you’re over 45, there’s a greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. A lack of physical exercise can also contribute. Women who have given birth to big babies or who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are also at greater risk.

Then there’s genetics. If people in your direct family have Type 2 diabetes, your risk of developing it is higher, and people with African, Hispanic, Asian, and Austronesian heritage in their genes also seem to have a greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. If you’ve already been diagnosed with prediabetes, there’s a fifty percent chance of it progressing to Type 2 diabetes within the next five to ten years unless you’re able to turn things around.

Difference Between Type 2 Diabetes and Type 1 Diabetes: Management

There is only one way for people living with Type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels and that’s the use of insulin. Of course, they also have to watch their diets to help keep blood sugar under control, but lifestyle changes don’t affect the condition itself.

There’s good news for people living with Type 2 diabetes, though. Apart from using insulin to manage the effects of their condition, they might even be able to avoid the need for extra insulin. Besides this, there are also treatments other than insulin that might help.

There’s no cure for either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, but some people with Type 2 diabetes who make lifestyle changes can reverse the condition somewhat, reaching a point where they’re managing their condition so well that they don’t need any medication. This is known as “remission” -  it’s not exactly the same as a cure because there is a risk of Type 2 diabetes recurring if insulin resistance increases over time. It is common for insulin resistance to increase with age so it’s important to keep up the good work that brought the blood sugar levels down in the first place.

Diet, exercise, weight loss (if you’re overweight), taking your medication regularly and having yearly checks are the best ways to manage Type 2 diabetes. If you’re at risk but don’t have diabetes yet, maintaining a healthy weight and remaining active also help to reduce your chances of developing the condition.

The Impact of Type 1 and 2 Diabetes on Your State of Mind

Discovering that you have an illness that could impact your quality of life in a big way, and even shorten your expected lifespan, comes as an enormous shock. With your diagnosis, your whole life seems to change, and you might feel that others don’t understand what you’re going through.

Support is available! The NHS Diabetes helpline offers you advice and support whenever you need it. There’s also a forum where you can get to know other people who are going through the same things as you are, share your feelings, and become part of a community of people who understand your situation first-hand.

Although you can manage diabetes and still have a normal life, you might start worrying about the future. What would happen to your life partner and dependents if you were to pass away? If you haven’t yet made provision for them, you’ll begin searching for a life insurance policy to cover their needs.

Unfortunately, many insurers are hesitant about approving applications from people with pre-existing conditions like Type 2 diabetes. They’re likely to ask you for a lot of information, make you wait a long time, and then offer you cover with premiums that are far higher than you expected.

You just found the solution to that problem. Specialised life insurance for people living with chronic conditions takes your circumstances into account without long waits, complicated application procedures, doctors’ visits, and inflated premiums. You can even get cover on the same day you apply! At Blueberry Life, we believe in you and your ability to have a healthy and productive life by managing your diabetes well. Why jump through hoops when our life insurance for chronic conditions is there for you? Start your application today and watch us spring into action. All you need is 5 minutes to tell us about yourself.

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Reviewed by Dr. Kingshuk Pal