What is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Jake Newby is a brand journalist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Having diabetes is more complicated than being diagnosed with a single condition. As the “Type 1” and “Type 2” distinctions suggest, diabetes is a group of diseases, all of which affect how the body manages blood sugar, also known as glucose. While there are lesser-known forms of diabetes worth educating yourself on, the two most common forms are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Both conditions involve problems with insulin, the hormone that helps move sugar from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. When your blood sugar goes up, it tells your pancreas to release insulin to control your blood sugar levels. Both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes affect how the body regulates blood sugar, but they arise in very different ways. The causes, treatments and long-term management for the two main types of diabetes can look different as well. Understanding those differences can make the condition easier to identify and manage.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. That means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. In this case, it destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Formerly known as juvenile diabetes, it usually develops in children and young adults, but Type 1 can occur at any age.
Health experts don’t fully understand the cause of Type 1 diabetes isn’t fully understood, but genetics and environmental triggers are believed to play a role.
People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day, either through an injection or by using an insulin pump. They must also carefully monitor their blood sugar levels. Common symptoms include:
- Frequent urination
- Extreme thirst
- Sudden weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
Symptoms often appear quickly, sometimes in a matter of a few weeks or months. Because the body stops producing insulin entirely, lifelong insulin therapy is required. Early diagnosis and treatment can help avoid or delay symptoms and serious complications.
What Is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 diabetes. It accounts for about 90% to 95% of diabetes cases, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In Type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but the cells don’t respond to it properly. This condition is known as insulin resistance. The pancreas may eventually struggle to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar at a normal level.
Type 2 diabetes typically develops in adults, although it’s increasingly seen in teenagers and younger adults due to rising obesity rates and sedentary lifestyles. In fact, according to the CDC, if the rate of new diagnoses stays the same, Type 1 diabetes cases would remain about the same, but Type 2 diabetes cases would increase about 70%.
Risk factors include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Family history of diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Older age
- Certain genetic backgrounds
Unlike Type 1, symptoms often develop slowly. Many people live with Type 2 diabetes for years before it’s diagnosed. Here are some common symptoms:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Slow-healing wounds
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
In the United States more than 2 in 5 adults have pre-diabetes, which is elevated blood sugar without symptoms. Of these people, about 8 in 10 do not know they have a problem. It is important to discuss any risk factors with your primary care provider. Early diagnosis can prevent complications.
Treatment often begins with lifestyle changes — including healthier eating, weight loss and exercise — along with medications that help the body use insulin more effectively.
Can Type 2 diabetes be reversed?
While Type 2 diabetes is generally considered a chronic condition, it can sometimes go into remission. Remission means blood sugar levels return to a normal range without the need for diabetes medication. Though rare, this most often happens when people:
- Lose a significant amount of weight
- Adopt a healthier diet
- Increase physical activity
- Address underlying metabolic issues
Some people achieve remission through structured weight-loss programs or bariatric surgery. However, remission doesn’t mean the disease is cured – if healthy habits aren’t maintained, blood sugar levels can rise again. By contrast, Type 1 diabetes cannot currently be reversed or prevented because the immune system permanently destroys insulin-producing cells.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Care Network are here to help members manage diabetes. The Teladoc Health® Diabetes Management program provides personalized and supportive care for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It also helps members reduce their risk of complications and manage related conditions, so they don’t experience worse health outcomes and spend exorbitant amounts of money in an expensive health care system.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
