Differences Between Diabetes Type I and Type II

December 17, 2020

4 min read

Whether you’re hearing of a diabetes diagnosis for your child or for yourself as an adult, there are many thoughts and fears associated with the word. Diabetes is a chronic disease that, when uncontrolled poses life-threatening risks.

There are three main types of diabetes. They are:

1.
Type I diabetes
2.
Type II diabetes
3.
Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that is often identified between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. It usually ends by six to 12 weeks after the baby is born. Women who have gestational diabetes while pregnant experience a heightened risk of developing type II diabetes later in life. While this form of diabetes only affects women, the other two types are equal opportunity offenders.

Many people view types I and II diabetes through a similar lens, but there are key differences between the two. One of the most important differences is preventability. There is currently no known method one can take to prevent type I diabetes. In contrast, type 2 diabetes can often be prevented and managed with lifestyle changes, physical activity, healthy diets, and other vital changes.

Type I Diabetes

Type I diabetes, which previously was referred to as juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 1.6 million people in the U.S. have type 1 diabetes.

People with type I diabetes have immune systems that seek out and destroy the beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin, leaving their bodies unable to produce insulin on their own. In other words, it is an organ-specific autoimmune disease.

Treatment options for Type I diabetes include taking insulin, consistently monitoring blood sugar levels, regularly exercising, and counting carbohydrates, protein, and fat consumption.

Type I diabetes can impact life expectancy. According to Scottish researchers, the estimated life expectancy among patients at the age of 20 are diminished by 11 years for men and 13 years for women when compared to people who do not have type I diabetes.

While type II diabetes is becoming an increasingly widespread diagnosis at these ages, the one definitive way to determine whether a child, teen, or young adult has type I or type II diabetes is through the GAD antibodies test. If these antibodies are not present, it is unlikely you have type I diabetes.

Type II Diabetes

According to the CDC, between 90 and 95 percent of people living with diabetes have type II diabetes. This condition develops over the course of many years and is most often diagnosed in adulthood (though, as mentioned before, it is becoming increasingly common for children, teens, and young adults to be diagnosed with type II diabetes).

Unlike type I diabetes which is an autoimmune disease, type II diabetes occurs when the body still produces insulin, but is no longer able to use it effectively. While there is some mystery as to why some people develop insulin resistance when others do not, there are some factors that may contribute, such as:

Genetics
Lifestyle
Inactivity
Diet
Weight distribution (people with abundant belly fat experience greater risk)
Obesity
Age

For both type I and type II diabetes, you can live with these conditions for long amounts of time without any obvious symptoms. Once symptoms begin to manifest, they often include one or more of the following:

Excessive thirst (drinking a lot)
Frequent urination
Increased hunger
Excessive fatigue
Blurry vision
Wounds, cuts, and sores that do not heal properly
Unintentional weight loss
Irritability and mood changes

If you’re experiencing these symptoms or have been diagnosed with type I or type II diabetes, it is important to understand that treatment methods and technology have improved to the point the condition is much easier to manage, monitor, and live with than in the past. Follow the recommendations of your physician as you work together to find the right balance of insulin, diet, and exercise to keep your diabetes under control and well-managed.

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