Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Difference?

Living with diabetes affects millions of Americans, yet many don’t understand the crucial differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These distinct conditions share a name but involve different causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches. Type 1 diabetes results from an autoimmune reaction, while type 2 develops gradually as the body becomes resistant to insulin. Understanding the specific differences between type 1 vs type 2 diabetes helps patients receive proper treatment and prevent serious complications.

Confusion around type 1 and type 2 diabetes is common. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinct conditions with separate causes and treatments. This article provides a detailed outline of the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

What Is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes Mellitus, more commonly known as diabetes, is a chronic disease that affects how the body uses glucose.

Our body uses glucose for energy. It comes from the food we eat and is also produced by the liver. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps move glucose from our blood into your body’s cells, where it can be used for energy. Without insulin, this process cannot occur, leading to excess glucose in the bloodstream.

The Different Types of Diabetes Mellitus

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas (beta cells located within the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas) that make insulin. This means people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes develops gradually as the pancreas produces less insulin than it used to. Your body becomes insulin resistant as a result. This means that although your body has insulin, it cannot produce enough of it or use it effectively.

Diabetes disrupts your blood sugar levels, or the amount of glucose in your bloodstream. It can lead to long term complications if not treated properly. As the disease progresses, it can increase your chances of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss. It also increases the risk of nerve damage, stroke, and limb amputation.

Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes: Key Differences

If you have diabetes, prediabetes, or are at risk of diabetes, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38.4 million people in the United States have diabetes and an additional 8.7 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes.

Experiencing diabetes symptoms or receiving a diagnosis can be confusing, especially since type 1 and type 2 diabetes are often used interchangeably. However, they are distinct conditions with different causes, risk factors, and treatments. This section details the key differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes has no exact cause. It is believed to be an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system mistakes the body’s own healthy cells for foreign invaders. It is is unclear why this happens. Genetic and environmental factors, like exposure to certain viruses, may contribute. The reaction stops your body’s ability to produce insulin. You can develop type 1 diabetes at any time, but it often develops in childhood or young adulthood.

Type 2 diabetes develops slowly, typically over the course of many years, and is often related to factors such a sedentary lifestyle or being overweight. It is characterized by insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance in which the body does not produce enough insulin or use it effectively. Type 2 diabetes is normally diagnosed in adults. Other genetic and environmental factors may also contribute to type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Risk Factors

There aren’t many known risk factors for diabetes type 1.

Research suggests a family history can increase your risk. More particularly, you are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes if an immediate family member, like a sibling or parent, also has it.

Type 1 diabetes typically develops in children and young adults. You are most likely to develop type 1 diabetes if you are under 40. In the United States, white people are more likely to have type 1 diabetes than African Americans, Hispanic, or Latino people.

There are several contributing factors for type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with age. You are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you are white and over 40 or over 25 and African-Caribbean, Black African, Chinese or South Asian. Other factors that increases a person’s risk include:

• Have prediabetes or slightly elevated blood glucose levels
• Weight gain or obesity
• Poor diet
• Have excess belly fat
• Are physically inactive
• Are Black, Latino, Hispanic, American Indian, or an Alaska Native
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome
• Have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
• Have given birth to a baby over 9 pounds

Treatment and Management for Diabetes

There is no cure for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Treatment is primarily managed by yourself with the support of a healthcare team including your doctor, registered dietitian, diabetes educator, and pharmacist.

Someone diagnosed with diabetes should have a good support system of family and friends to check in and keep them accountable.

Type 1 Diabetes Management

For type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin every day. You can use insulin injections/an insulin pen or wear an insulin pump. This helps manage your blood glucose levels.

People with type 1 diabetes will sometimes also count calories and balance it out by taking insulin.

You cannot take insulin as a pill because the acid in your stomach would destroy it before it reaches the bloodstream. Your doctor will help you determine your best course of treatment.

People with type 1 diabetes also need to get regular blood sugar checks. Your doctor should determine target blood glucose levels and how often to check. Keeping your blood sugar levels close to target will prevent diabetes complications, like diabetic ketoacidosis.

Type 2 Diabetes Management

Type 2 diabetes can be treated without insulin. Treatment plans usually include a diabetes medication used to regulate blood sugar levels as well as meal planning and having an active lifestyle. Together, these treatments work together to manage your blood glucose levels.

Diabetes medications are used to regulate blood sugar levels. There are different types that work in different ways. Common types of non-insulin medications include:

• GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide 1)
• Metformin
• DDP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase 4)
• GIP (peptide receptor agonists)
• SGLT2 inhibitors (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2)
• sulfonylureas
• TZDs (thiazolidinediones)

Over time, medications can become less effective as the disease progresses. An adjustment in medications may be needed in these cases. Sometimes people with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin if they need surgery or have an infection.

Prevention of Diabetes

There is nothing you can do to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes, but you can lower your risk for type 2. Lifestyle changes are the key to minimizing your risk, including:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Losing weight, if you are overweight
• Increasing your movement and activity levels
• Eating a balanced diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats
• Minimizing your intake of processed and sugary foods

If you already have type 2 diabetes, you can regulate your blood sugar levels and prevent your condition from worsening through careful monitoring.

Symptoms of Type 2 vs Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes share several symptoms. Signs include:

• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Blurred vision
• Increased urination
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Thrush

People with type 2 diabetes may also experience:

• Numbness or tingling in extremities
• Gum problems
• Itching
• Poor wound healing
• Frequent infections
• Erectile dysfunction

Despite similar symptoms, type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ in how symptoms appear. Type 1 symptoms develop quickly. They are often easier to spot in younger people and children than in adults. You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have a sudden onset of diabetes symptoms.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes tend to develop more slowly, especially in its early stages. Some people can have diabetes or insulin resistance and not know it for years. This makes it important to know your risk of type 2 diabetes and be aware of symptoms.

What if Diabetes Is Left Untreated?

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are both chronic conditions that require long-term attention and treatment. Over time, diabetes can harm vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and eyes as well as the nerves. Potential complications include:

• High blood pressure: Having diabetes makes you twice as likely to develop high blood pressure. This increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Heart disease: Diabetes increases your risk of cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease. Other complications include heart attack, stroke, chest pain, narrowing of the blood arteries, as well as high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
• Digestive and kidney diseases: Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which keep waste from entering the blood. Over time, this can lead to kidney failure or kidney disease. Sometimes dialysis may be required if kidney disease is severe.
• Nerve damage: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that keep nerves healthy. This can lead to tingling, numbing, pain, and burning sensations in the extremities. Poorly controlled blood sugar could lead to total body numbness over time. Nerve damage in the digestive system can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
• Amputations: Untreated diabetes mellitus can cause poor circulation and nerve damage in extremities, especially feet. This leads to reduced sensation and slower wound healing. Left untreated, these issues can develop into severe infections or gangrene, sometimes requiring amputation of toes, feet, or leg portions to prevent life-threatening complications.
• Pregnancy complications: High blood sugar levels throughout pregnancy can pose health risks for the mother and baby. It increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preeclampsia (high blood pressure), diabetic ketoacidosis, and birth defects.

It is crucial to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can have serious effects. It can also lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication of diabetes that develops when the body does not have enough insulin.

Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis include:

• Fruity-smelling breath
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dehydration
• Fast and deep breathing
• Drowsiness
• Dry skin and mouth
• Rapid pulse
• Low blood pressure

If you experience any diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms, you should seek medical care immediately. Diabetic ketoacidosis is life-threatening and can lead to coma and death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? We’ve got you covered. We answer frequently asked questions below.

How common is each type of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1, affecting 90-95% of people living with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects roughly 5-10% of people living with diabetes.

How can you tell what type of diabetes you have?

It is hard to tell what type of diabetes you have based on symptoms alone. Developing symptoms quickly and being under the age of 45 may indicate that you have type 1 diabetes. However, the only way to determine what type of diabetes you have is to see a doctor and receive diagnostic testing.

What diabetes type is more severe?

Both diabetes types are serious conditions, but type 1 is generally considered more severe in the short-term, though both are serious long-term, especially if poorly managed. This is because diabetes type 1 has a sudden onset of symptoms which often require immediate care. Moreover, while type 2 causes insulin resistance, type 1 makes the body unable to produce insulin at all. This can cause more emergent symptoms, particularly in its early stages.

Can type 2 diabetes progress to type 1 diabetes?

No, type 2 diabetes cannot progress into type 1 diabetes. They are two separate conditions with differing underlying causes. It is possible to have both types of diabetes, known as double or hybrid diabetes, but this is rare.

Take Control of your Health with a Licensed Dietitian

While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes affect blood sugar, they are distinct conditions. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin producing cells. Type 2 diabetes causes insulin resistance and a decline in insulin production. While you cannot prevent type 1 diabetes, you can lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Navigating a diabetes mellitus diagnosis or having preexisting factors can be overwhelming, but a licensed dietitian can help. At Dietitian Live, our expert dietitians can offer personalized guidance to help you understand and manage your condition. They can develop an eating plan tailored to your needs that promotes stable blood sugar levels. Book an appointment today, and we’ll work together to take control of your health and make empowered choices!