Differences between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes

Three generation multi ethnic family portrait in a park

	Type 1 diabetes	Type 2 diabetes
Cause	The body’s immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas; as a result, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin	The body makes insulin, but can’t use it properly (insulin resistance) Insulin production in the pancreas decreases (insulin deficiency)
Risk factors	There are currently no known risk factors for type 1 diabetes.	40 years of age or older A close family member with diabetes Aboriginal, African, Asian, Hispanic or South Asian descent Overweight
Incidence	Accounts for about 10% of all cases of diabetes around the world	Accounts for about 90% of all cases of diabetes around the world
Age at diagnosis	Usually diagnosed in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood While it can be diagnosed in people over 40 years old, this is very rare	Usually diagnosed in adults over 40 years old, but can occur in people in their 20s and 30s
Treatment	People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day	Lifestyle changes (physical activity, weight loss, and dietary changes) Oral and injectable medications , and/or insulin
Former names	Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) Juvenile-onset diabetes	Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) Adult-onset diabetes
Prevention	Cannot be prevented, as it is an autoimmune disease	May be prevented or delayed, as two major risk factors can be modified: being overweight and inactivity

When someone says that they have 'diabetes', it's important to know specifically which type, as there are major differences. Diabetes used as a general term is a chronic disease that occurs when the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. In Canada, approximately 90% people with diabetes have type 2, and 10% are living with type 1. The key differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes are discussed here.

Symptoms:

A person with diabetes may experience symptoms due to elevated blood sugar levels. The chart below outlines some of the more common symptoms at onset of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

These symptoms may develop/appear over several weeks:

· Increased thirst and urination

· Increased hunger

· Blurred vision

· Tiredness and fatigue

· Unexplained weight loss

These symptoms may develop/appear over several years:

· Increased thirst and urination

· Increased hunger

· Blurred vision

· Tiredness and fatigue

· Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

· Sores or wounds that taking a longer time to heal

· Weight changes

You can learn more about symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes here.

Causes:

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes, but they both involve insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced and released by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. The chart below compares the causes of type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
An autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system destroys beta cells in the pancreas, which means the body can no longer make enough insulin.	Insulin resistance. The body starts to resist the effects of insulin, so sugar increases in the blood. Eventually, the body may stop producing adequate insulin as well.

Risk Factors:

Risk factors differ quite significantly for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We know much more about definitive risk factors for type 2 diabetes in comparison to type 1. The chart below outlines some of the risk factors of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

· Having a family history of diabetes

· Certain genetic features

· Possibly, exposure to some infections or viruses

· Having a family member with type 2 diabetes

· Age over 40 years

· Race/ethnicity

· Being overweight or obese

· Smoking

· Diet

· Being physically inactive

· High blood pressure

· High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol

You can learn more about risk factors for type 1 and 2 diabetes here.

Diagnosis:

Tests used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar. The following tests used for diagnosis of diabetes include:

A1C test
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
Random plasma glucose (RPG) test
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

Diabetes may be diagnosed by any of the following criteria:

A1C test	A1C ≥6.5%
Fasting plasma glucose test	FPG ≥ 7 mmol/L
Random plasma glucose test	RPG ≥ 11.1 mmol/L
Oral glucose tolerance test	OGGT ≥ 11.1 mmol/L

You can learn more about diagnosis of type 1 and 2 diabetes here.

Treatment:

While there is no cure for diabetes, treatment can help individuals manage it and prevent it from getting worse. The chart below highlights the differences in treatment for type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes.

	Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
Treatment	Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves daily insulin injections or use of an insulin pump.	There are several classes of medications used to help increase insulin levels and/or reduce blood sugar levels. Most medications are oral, but they may also be injectable. Insulin is used in more advanced stages of type 2 diabetes, but in some instances, right at the time of diagnosis.

You can learn more about treatment for type 1 and 2 diabetes here.

Prevention:

In individuals with prediabetes, following a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, quitting smoking, and losing weight can all be effective ways to prevent diabetes. It is important to consult your doctor if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, to discuss strategies for diabetes prevention.

You can learn more about prevention here.