The Difference Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
While both types can pose serious health risks, the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is significant. The two types normally strike at different ages and require different treatments. Both are caused when the patient's pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin or the body is unable to utilize it properly. Insulin is a hormone used by the body to remove sugar from the blood, storing it in cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults. In the past, most patients with Type 2 have been in their mid-forties or older. Over the past few decades, however, physicians have been finding more cases of Type 2 in younger patients. Teenagers and even elementary school children are being diagnosed with alarming frequency. There is some debate over whether this statistic reflects better diagnostics or a significant increase in cases.
Normally, patients with juvenile diabetes are underweight when they are first diagnosed. In most, the pancreas is failing to produce insulin at all, which prevents the body from storing sugar in fat cells. By contrast, most patients with adult onset diabetes are overweight when first diagnosed. In most cases, their bodies are producing insulin, but it is not enough for effective blood sugar control. Some patients are also insulin resistant, and their bodies simply cannot utilize the insulin that is produced.
Treatments depend on which diabetes is causing the condition. Type 2 patients seldom need injections of insulin and can control their blood sugar through diet, weight loss, and exercise. They may also take oral diabetes medications if need be. However, Type 1 almost always requires insulin injections. These may have to be administered several times daily.
Health risks are similar for both types. When the body cannot remove high sugar levels from the blood, damage to the internal organs can result. Damage to the nerves in the legs and feet can, in extreme cases, lead to amputation. The patient is also at higher risk for coronary and circulatory problems, such as heart attack and stroke.
With either type, some patients may show no symptoms or they may not recognize symptoms they do have. They may feel extremely thirsty or hungry most of the time or have tingling, numbness, or pain in their extremities. They may awaken frequently at night to urinate or need to go much more often when awake.
Diet plays an important part in the treatment of all diabetics. Meals should be consumed at a consistent time, and carbohydrates, fats, and proteins should be the same. Sugar and alcohol are best avoided or consumed in very limited amounts.
As yet, no cure has been found for either form, and the best that can be done is to control the condition. Diabetes has been the subject of a great deal of research, and new methods and treatments continue to be found. Many in the medical community believe that a permanent cure may yet be discovered.
Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults. In the past, most patients with Type 2 have been in their mid-forties or older. Over the past few decades, however, physicians have been finding more cases of Type 2 in younger patients. Teenagers and even elementary school children are being diagnosed with alarming frequency. There is some debate over whether this statistic reflects better diagnostics or a significant increase in cases.
Normally, patients with juvenile diabetes are underweight when they are first diagnosed. In most, the pancreas is failing to produce insulin at all, which prevents the body from storing sugar in fat cells. By contrast, most patients with adult onset diabetes are overweight when first diagnosed. In most cases, their bodies are producing insulin, but it is not enough for effective blood sugar control. Some patients are also insulin resistant, and their bodies simply cannot utilize the insulin that is produced.
Treatments depend on which diabetes is causing the condition. Type 2 patients seldom need injections of insulin and can control their blood sugar through diet, weight loss, and exercise. They may also take oral diabetes medications if need be. However, Type 1 almost always requires insulin injections. These may have to be administered several times daily.
Health risks are similar for both types. When the body cannot remove high sugar levels from the blood, damage to the internal organs can result. Damage to the nerves in the legs and feet can, in extreme cases, lead to amputation. The patient is also at higher risk for coronary and circulatory problems, such as heart attack and stroke.
With either type, some patients may show no symptoms or they may not recognize symptoms they do have. They may feel extremely thirsty or hungry most of the time or have tingling, numbness, or pain in their extremities. They may awaken frequently at night to urinate or need to go much more often when awake.
Diet plays an important part in the treatment of all diabetics. Meals should be consumed at a consistent time, and carbohydrates, fats, and proteins should be the same. Sugar and alcohol are best avoided or consumed in very limited amounts.
As yet, no cure has been found for either form, and the best that can be done is to control the condition. Diabetes has been the subject of a great deal of research, and new methods and treatments continue to be found. Many in the medical community believe that a permanent cure may yet be discovered.