Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
Going to the doctor and being diagnosed with diabetes is a major changing point in the life of anyone. Understanding which type of diabetes, what the symptoms are, and how to take care of the body is a very important step for any diabetic who wants quality of life and a longer life expectancy.
While Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes are both disease/disorders dealing with insulin in the pancreas and have many similarities, they are also vastly different in definition, who can get them, and how they are handled.
The most well-defined variances between the two lie in the definitions and who can contract it. First, previously known as Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system is destroying the beta cells, or insulin producing cells, in the pancreas and is relatively uncommon, only occurring in as little as 5% of the Diabetic population. On the other hand, Type 2 Diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes, is a metabolic disorder where the diabetic’s body is either not producing any or isn’t producing enough insulin for the body’s consumption. This type of Diabetes accounts for 90-95% of the 26 million Americans with Diabetes.
Another difference between Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes is who can get it and what age it is diagnosed. With Type 1 Diabetes, however uncommon, it is typically diagnosed in people below the age of 20 but can be contracted at any age. It is also more commonly found in white people as opposed to black people and equally common between genders. While Type 2 Diabetes is becoming more common in children, it is most common in people who are obese or overweight, are over the age of 45, had had gestational diabetes in the past, have pre-diabetes, have a family history of diabetes, choose not to exercise, have poor eating habits, have lower HDL cholesterol or higher triglycerides, and have high blood pressure.
While more common, what causes Type 2...