What is The Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

In the UK, almost 6 million people are living with diabetes, making it one of the country's most common long-term health conditions. More than 4.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, while an estimated 1.3 million people are living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. In addition, around 6.9 million people are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, meaning that more than 12 million adults in the UK are living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Diabetes is a condition that results in high blood sugar levels. There are different causes, symptoms, and risks associated with the different types of diabetes. To help you better understand the condition, we explain the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes blood glucose (blood sugar) levels to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. While both conditions affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, their causes and treatment approaches differ significantly.

Although there is currently no cure for diabetes, effective management can help people live healthy and active lives. Managing diabetes typically involves maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, monitoring blood glucose levels, and, where necessary, taking medication or insulin.

Without proper management, diabetes can increase the risk of serious complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision problems.

The body relies on insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells where it can be used for energy. Diabetes develops when the body either produces little or no insulin, or when it cannot use insulin effectively.

To stay healthy, those with diabetes will need to manage the condition in order to control their blood sugar levels

People living with diabetes are also at increased risk of diabetic retinopathy, a complication that affects the blood vessels in the retina. Regular eye screening and good blood glucose control can significantly reduce the risk of vision loss.

The Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes causes blood sugar levels to become too high, but the underlying causes differ between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin to meet its needs.

Understanding the differences between the two types is important because early diagnosis and effective management can help reduce the risk of complications affecting the heart, kidneys, feet, and eyes.

High blood sugar levels over time can also lead to elevated HbA1c levels. HbA1c is formed when glucose attaches to red blood cells and provides an indication of average blood glucose levels over the previous two to three months.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes accounts for approximately 8% of all diabetes diagnoses in the UK. Symptoms often develop rapidly over days or weeks and can occur at any age, although the condition is most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults.

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Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

Around 90% of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK have Type 2 diabetes, making it by far the most common form of the condition. Symptoms often develop gradually and can go unnoticed for many years.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Research shows that healthy lifestyle changes, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and increasing physical activity, can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by around 50% in people at high risk.

While Type 1 diabetes is not related to lifestyle or diet, Type 2 diabetes often is. There are more ways for you to manage Type 2 diabetes as opposed to Type 1, such as maintaining a healthy diet and sufficient regular exercise.

There is no cure for Type 2 diabetes. However, it is possible to go into diabetes remission.

Health Conditions

There are 2 causes of Type 2 diabetes. The first is when cells become resistant to insulin. When this happens, the cells do not take enough sugar (leading to a lack of energy). If cells are unable to get sufficient energy this way, it takes from other protein parts of a cell.

The waste product resulting from burning protein can lead to liver and kidney damage. Eventually, the body struggles to survive the loss of necessary cells. Research has found someone suffering from Type 2 diabetes has a higher risk of early mortality.

The second is where the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin, or insulin resistance. Without sufficient insulin, blood sugar levels increase. In the event that cells do not respond well to insulin, the body produces more. It is not known why either cause happens.

Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes can produce a range of different symptoms. However, these symptoms can develop very slowly (sometimes taking years to develop). Symptoms you may experience with Type 2 diabetes include:

Being thirsty a lot more or unable to quench thirst
Increased need to empty your bladder
Feeling hungry more
Unintentional weight loss
Tiredness and fatigue
Sores or cuts that take a long time to heal
Blurred vision
Increased number of infections
A numb or tingling feeling in the hands and feet
Darkened areas of skin, including the neck and armpits (a tell-tale sign of insulin resistance).

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP straight away to get tested.

Risk factors

Several risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. As it can take symptoms a long time to appear, understanding the risk factors is important for early diagnoses.

Risk factors include:

Age – Type 2 diabetes is much more likely to develop in later years.
Ethnicity – certain ethnicities, such as African or South Asian are more likely to develop diabetes at a younger age.
Obesity or overweight.
Insufficient exercise or inactivity.
Low levels of HDL cholesterol (or good cholesterol).
A large waist size.
Family history – such as a sibling or parent with diabetes.
Medical history of certain conditions – such as high blood pressure, heart disease or gestational diabetes.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Lifestyle interventions can work well in helping prevent Type 2 diabetes by up to 50%. Life interventions such as a balanced diet, regular physical exercise and maintaining a healthy weight all help.

Life interventions such as a balanced diet, regular physical exercise and maintaining a healthy weight all help

Living with diabetes can be overwhelming. However, it is extremely important to be aware of the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Understanding the differences, alongside the symptoms, can help you to get diagnosed quicker and continue to live a healthy life while keeping control of your diabetes.