{"id":9086,"date":"2024-11-05T16:02:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/type1support.ca\/differences-between-type-1-diabetes-and-type-2-diabetes\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T13:39:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:39:28","slug":"differences-between-type-1-diabetes-and-type-2-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/type1support.naracreative.com\/en\/differences-between-type-1-diabetes-and-type-2-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Differences Between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you have trouble differentiating between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D)? You\u2019re not alone!<\/p>\n

Because of their similar name, the media<\/a>\u00a0often uses the word diabetes <\/i>alone to refer to both conditions\u2014T1D and T2D\u2014lending to the idea that they are one and the same. This lack of accuracy and knowledge in the general population has led to stereotypes and misconceptions about diabetes that reinforce the confusion between the two types.<\/p>\n

The media and public health messages sometimes convey the idea that diabetes is the result of a \u201clack of personal responsibility,\u201d including an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of exercise and excess weight. This is completely false for T1D, and largely untrue for T2D.<\/p>\n

However, while there are obvious differences between the different types of diabetes, pitting them against each other can also contribute to the stigma experienced by people living with diabetes (e.g., thinking that people living with T2D are responsible for the onset of diabetes as opposed to people living with T1D, or that living with T2D is easier than living with T1D).<\/p>\n

So, what is the truth? What are the differences between T1D and T2D? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

What is diabetes?<\/b><\/h2>\n

To understand how diabetes works, we first need to understand how the body works without diabetes.<\/p>\n

Without diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\u00a0The pancreas is the organ in the human body that produces a hormone called insulin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Insulin is like a key that unlocks the door to the cells, allowing glucose (sugar in the blood) to provide the body with the energy it needs to function.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The body is unable to produce enough insulin or use it properly. So, sugar in the blood cannot be used properly to provide energy to the body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sugar accumulates in the blood, and the body eventually releases it in urine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Differences between the two types<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are different types of diabetes depending on the cause of the sugar build-up in the blood. The most common are T1D and T2D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T2D is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90% of cases, while T1D accounts for about 7% of cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since T2D is the most common type of diabetes, most people often mistakenly think of all diabetes cases as being type 2. However, the profile of people affected, the causes and the treatments are very different from one type of diabetes to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Type 1 and type 2 diabetes<\/h3>\n
\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n <\/td>\n \n Type 1 <\/td>\n \n Type 2 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Origin <\/td>\n \n The immune system goes after the wrong target and attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The body no longer produces insulin. This is called an autoimmune disease. <\/td>\n \n Glucose cannot effectively enter the cells. This phenomenon is called insulin resistance, as if the \u201ckey\u201d was damaged. The pancreas has to work harder to produce more insulin. Over time, it produces less and less insulin, as if it were running out. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Risk factors <\/td>\n \n The causes are largely unknown, but often involve a genetic predisposition and a triggering factor (e.g., viral infection, stress). <\/td>\n \n Genetic predisposition <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Socio-economic and environmental factors (e.g., lack of nutrition information, high costs associated with physical activity) <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Excess weight, especially excess abdominal fat <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Diet high in saturated fatty acids and animal products, low in plant-based fiber <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Hypertension <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Sedentary lifestyle <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Gestational diabetes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Age <\/td>\n \n Often appears before the age of 20, but can be diagnosed at any age. <\/td>\n \n Often appears after the age of 40, but affects increasingly younger population. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Prevention <\/td>\n \n It is possible to delay diagnosis in at-risk individuals with medication available through research projects or at high cost <\/td>\n \n Lifestyle changes and, if insufficient, oral and\/or injectable medication, which may include insulin. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Treatment <\/td>\n \n Insulin administration. <\/td>\n \n Lifestyle changes and, if insufficient, oral and\/or injectable medication, which may include insulin. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n<\/div>