Diabetes
Control diabetes effectively with tailored care, expert advice, and support.
How to differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
The primary difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is the need for insulin. Insulin is the pancreas hormone in your body that naturally reduces the glucose (“sugars”) in your blood.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune dysfunction that ultimately damages your pancreas. The pancreas is an endocrine gland producing insulin to help control blood glucose levels. When this is destroyed, blood sugars start to rise. For people who have type 1 diabetes, insulin is a life-saving drug that is necessary for survival. Before insulin discovery 1920s, the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes was considered a death sentence. Type 1 diabetes occurs in early adulthood but may occur at any age.
How is Diabetes Type 1 diagnosed?
- The classic scenario is someone becomes critically ill with a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, because of their inability to make insulin. They go to the hospital and improve once fluids and insulin are given.
- Antibodies help us decide if someone is Type 1: GAD, IA-2, islet cell antibodies, and zinc transporter antibodies.
- A low or undetectable C-peptide when glucose is high also proves that the pancreas cannot make insulin.
How is Diabetes Type 1 treated?
- All DM1 patients need insulin. Drugs like Metformin, Canagliflozin, or Liraglutide will not work for them. Patients do very well with insulin pumps that are linked to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
- There is new technology available among insulin pumps that functions quite a bit like an artificial pancreas.
- There are early studies underway for islet cell implants encapsulated in nanoparticles that keep the antibodies OUT while permitting insulin secretion–a cure may be on the horizon.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Diabetes Type 2 usually occurs later in life but may be seen even at an early age. Usually, the disease occurs when two problems coincide. The first being, the pancreas is unable to meet the demand for insulin. The second reason is insulin resistance which means insulin has to work harder to control blood glucose levels.