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A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Klerksdorp, ZA
June 30, 2025
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A DiabetesTeam Member

Unless you mistyped, in which case Type 2 and Type 2 "Diabetes" are the same thing

Type 1 Diabetes - is an auto-immune disorder where your body sees your pancreas as an "infection" and attacks and kills it's ability to produce insulin with TWO different anti-bodies - it was previously called Juvenile Diabetes because onset is typically in children and early teens

It can only be treated with Insulin

Type 2 Diabetes - is a metabolic disorder that can be a combination of Insulin Resistance (our body doesn't use insulin well to varying degrees) an Insulin Production problem (pancreas working at somewhat under 100%), hereditary genetics (5-10% of Type 2's are genetically predisposed to developing Type 2) or a combination of the three

Type 2 was previously called Sugar Diabetes and "could be" treated with Insulin but more often it's oral or injectable medications with some managing by diet/exercise alone

There is Type 3 Diabetes which is either Type 1 or Type 2 along with Vascular Dementia (like Alzheimer's except caused by high blood sugar damage)

Type 3C Diabetes is where you have damage/removal to the pancreas causing a loss of insulin production often requiring supplemental insulin

(Covid attacked and destroyed the pancreas of some that were infected - that is an example of a Type 3C Diabetic)

LADA is often called an Adult Form of Type 1 or Type 1.5 (first name) - Latent Auto-immune Diabetes in Adults is a disorder where only ONE anti-body attacks the pancreas so onset is slower and you may be able to delay going on insulin for months or years

Then there is two types of Monogenic Diabetes - these forms are "inherited" from one of the parents

MODY or Mature Onset Diabetes in the Young has 5 subtypes with 3 of them "looking like and treated like" Type 2 and the other two forms require Insulin

NDM or Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus which "looks like" Type 1 Diabetes, onset is typically between 6 and 12 months (newborns) but it's a corrupt gene and not an autoimmune disorder - no difference in practice - they live their lives as a Type 1

And there is also Gestational Diabetes which is a metabolic disorder that effects pregnant women "while pregnant" but leaves them many times more likely to develop Type 2

Any Type could use Insulin to treat - that is a treatment not associated with a specific type and in some older references you may see IDDM which stood for Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus which was used to describe insulin users whether they had Juvenile (Type 1) or Sugar Diabetes (Type 2)

June 30, 2025 (edited)
DiabetesTeam

What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body doesn't produce insulin at all because the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It usually starts in childhood and requires insulin therapy to survive. Type 2 Show Full Answer

What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body doesn't produce insulin at all because the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It usually starts in childhood and requires insulin therapy to survive. Type 2 diabetes is different - the body still produces insulin, but the cells become resistant to it over time. This means cells can't effectively absorb glucose from the blood. It's most common in adults over 45, though it can occur in younger people too.

Type 2 can often be managed through lifestyle changes and medication, while Type 1 always requires insulin treatment to survive.

June 30, 2025

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