Guest Blog: Healthline

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are Two Different Diseases

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you’re probably wondering exactly what it is and how it differs from the type 1 variety.  First of all, diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by the body’s inability to produce sufficient insulin, which is a key factor in transferring blood glucose to the cells.  Type 1 and type 2 diabetes may result in the same disorder; however, they are actually two separate diseases. 

The key difference between type 1 and type 2 is that type 1 is genetic, quite often inherited and cannot be prevented or cured.  Type 2 diabetes occurs later in life, is thought to be brought on by obesity and bad eating habits, and can sometimes be remedied through diet, exercise and weight loss. 

Type 1 diabetes is actually an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s immune system has destroyed the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.  Without insulin to transfer glucose from the blood to the cells where it is needed, blood sugar levels rise to dangerous levels, causing excessive thirst and urination as the body seeks to rid itself of the blood glucose the only way it can.  The cells, meanwhile, are starving.

Type 1 diabetes is known as juvenile diabetes because it generally manifests during early childhood and rarely after age 40.  It is considered a genetic disorder and is often inherited.  There is currently no cure for diabetes 1, and sufferers must inject themselves daily with insulin in order to survive.

Type 2 Diabetes is Often Self Inflicted

While the exact cause and mechanism is not well known, it is generally agreed that type 2 diabetes is quite often brought on or at least aggravated by obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise.  Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in the body develop a resistance to insulin, possibly as a result of being subjected to extreme amounts of the substance over many years. 

Chronic overeating leads to chronic high doses of insulin being generated by the pancreas in response to the overwhelming amounts glucose entering the blood after a large meal.  Too much insulin can be toxic to cells, which may respond by reducing numbers of insulin receptors in order to protect themselves.  It may be that cells develop insulin resistance over time anyway, resulting in a predisposition of older people to develop diabetes 2, but this process may be sped up through overeating and poor diet, causing a much earlier onset of the disease.

In a classic catch 22 situation, these altered cells require higher levels of insulin, which the pancreas then produces, causing the cells to respond by developing further insulin resistance.  At some point, the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin to cover this increased demand, and as with diabetes 1, blood glucose levels become dangerously high and the cells begin to starve.

Depending on the severity of the condition, type 2 diabetes may be managed through diet and exercise, losing weight, and in more severe cases oral or injected insulin supplements.  The prescription for preventing diabetes 2 is the same as for managing it; maintaining a healthy body weight, getting regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables and whole grains, which helps to maintain steady blood glucose levels.

Complex carbohydrates and starches are digested more slowly, releasing glucose into the blood system gradually, unlike sweets and simple carbs, which cause immediate spikes in blood sugar and trigger an over-production of insulin.  This large quantity of insulin then causes a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, triggering hunger pangs and further binging.

Put quite simply, the difference between diabetes 1 and 2 is the cause.  Diabetes 1 is genetic and its occurrence cannot be changed, while diabetes 2 is a result of lifestyle, and is not necessarily a predetermined outcome of the aging process.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.