Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The key difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus is that type 1 diabetes mellitus is the main form of diabetes mellitus, and it occurs due to the immune system destroying insulin-making cells in the pancreas, while type 2 diabetes mellitus is the main form of diabetes mellitus and is due to insulin resistance.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder. It is due to the inappropriate elevation of blood glucose levels. There are several types of diabetes mellitus, including type 1, type 2, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), gestational diabetes, neonatal diabetes, and other diabetes mellitus types due to secondary causes such as endocrinopathies and steroid use. Among them, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the two main forms of diabetes mellitus.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
3. What is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
4. Similarities – Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
5. Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the main form of diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes is believed to result from the immune system’s destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes mellitus include extreme thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, upset stomach, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, failure or tiredness, blurry vision, heavy laboured breathing, frequent infections in the skin, urinary tract, and vagina, mood changes, bedwetting in children, fruity smell to the breath, shaking and confusion, belly pain, and loss of consciousness. The risk factors for type 1 diabetes mellitus may include people that are younger than 20, ethnicity (more in Whites), and having a parent or sibling with type one diabetes mellitus.

Moreover, type 1 diabetes mellitus can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood test, and urine test. Furthermore, treatment options for type 1 diabetes may include insulin shots to control blood sugar and lifestyle changes (exercises, a healthy eating plan, quitting smoking, taking care of feet and teeth, and regular medical, dental, and vision exams).

What is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a form of diabetes mellitus that is due to insulin resistance. People who are middle-aged or older are most likely to be affected by this condition. Moreover, people with this condition have insulin, but their cells do not use it properly. Type 2 diabetes mellitus can occur due to genes, extra weight, metabolic syndrome, too much glucose from the liver, bad communication between cells, and broken beta cells.

The risk factors for this condition include age (45 or older), family history, ethnicity (African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic, Latino, or Pacific Islander American), prediabetes, heart and blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, having a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and depression. The signs and symptoms of this condition include being thirsty, frequent urination, blurry vision, being cranky, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, fatigue, wounds that do not heal, yeast infections, feeling hungry, and weight loss.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood test, urine test, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus may include lifestyle changes (losing weight, being active through exercises, healthy eating, and quitting smoking) and medications (metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists, insulin detemir, and insulin glargine).

What are the Similarities Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the two main forms of diabetes mellitus.
• Both types may have similar symptoms, such as thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, etc.
• If not well treated, they can lead to complications.
• Both types can be diagnosed through blood and urine tests.
• They can be treated by giving insulin hormones.

What is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the main form of diabetes mellitus that occurs due to the immune system destroying insulin-making cells in the pancreas, while type 2 diabetes mellitus is a form of diabetes mellitus that occurs due to insulin resistance. This is the key difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, type 1 diabetes mellitus is a result of an autoimmune condition, while type 2 diabetes mellitus is a result of genes, extra weight, metabolic syndrome, too much glucose from the liver, bad communication between cells, and broken beta cells.

The following table summarizes the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Summary – Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disorder that causes an elevation of blood glucose levels. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the two main forms of diabetes mellitus. Though these conditions have similar symptoms, such as thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, etc., they are caused due to different factors. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is due to the immune system destroying insulin-making cells in the pancreas, while type 2 diabetes mellitus is due to insulin resistance. This is the summary of the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Reference:

1. “Type 1 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Diagnosis, and Prevention.” WebMD.
2. “Type 2 Diabetes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “3D medical animation still of Type One Diabetes” By Manu5 – Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” By Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia