What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic illness that has no cure to date, and often results in other medical complications that are life-threatening. However, the disease manifests differently in some patients as type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Causes and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is not like type 2 diabetes, because the latter results in the destruction of the beta cells (found in the pancreas) that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes isn’t an autoimmune disease, but the body will lose the ability to respond to insulin in a condition known as insulin resistance. Over time, the body will try to produce more insulin and destroy the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone. In short, type 1 diabetics cannot produce insulin, while type 2 diabetics can produce insulin but don’t respond to or utilize it.

Symptoms of diabetes include the following: excessive thirst and hunger, slow-healing wounds, blurred vision, lethargy, passing more urine, leg cramps, changes in weight, headaches, and dizziness.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Differences
Both types of diabetes are marked by the high sugar levels in the bloodstream, but the causes and the progression of the disease are different. The public usually perceives a diabetic as overweight and inactive, but according to studies, most people with diabetes are not overweight although it can be a factor in the development of the disease. Doctors are still unclear about the causes of diabetes, but there are ways to distinguish which diabetes type a person has.

These are the differences between types 1 and 2 diabetes.

• Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in patients older than 30 years, but there are always exceptions.
• Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with being overweight, although that is not the only determining factor.
• Type 2 diabetes is often associated with high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetics usually do not need medication during the initial treatment, and it is also possible to stop medicating.
• Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, but adults can have it too.
• Type 1 diabetes is not tied to excess body weight.
• Type 1 diabetes is connected to high levels of ketone.
• Type 1 diabetes must be treated with insulin pump or injections for life.
• Type 1 diabetes will need medication because the person might not survive without insulin.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is treated with oral medications to make the insulin in the body more effective. Some people will need insulin injections if the body has low sensitivity to insulin and if there is beta cell failure.

The doctor will discuss with you how to control your blood glucose level so that it doesn’t fall too low or get too high and to avoid complications as well. You must come up with a diet and exercise plan to keep the blood glucose steady, and make changes in your lifestyle in general.