Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Understand The Difference

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Joy Pape, RN, BSN, CDE, WOCN, CFNC in Diabetes Prevention Program

By Joy Pape, RN, BSN, CDE, WOCN

Susan  and Mary both have diabetes. Susan manages her diabetes by eating healthy, being active and taking the diabetes medicine metformin every day. Mary manages her diabetes by eating healthy, being active and taking insulin before she eats and at bedtime.

Some might think that Mary’s diabetes is worse than Susan’s because Mary takes insulin. Some may even think Mary has to take insulin because she has done something wrong. The truth, however, is that Susan and Mary have different types of diabetes that need different types of treatment.

Most experts agree that everyone’s diabetes is different. Different doesn’t have to mean good or bad, better or worse. Some people manage their diabetes just by eating healthy and being active; some also take pills and some also take injections. Diabetes treatment depends on the type of diabetes you have.

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Your immune system, when working right, helps your body fight infections and certain diseases. It is a complex system that can tell the difference between what is part of you and what isn’t, what’s good for you and what’s not.

When your immune system is working right, it fights things such as infections. It also has a way of remembering types of infections and diseases that it fought off in the past, and will fight them off again if they return.

An autoimmune disorder occurs when your immune system is not working right. Instead of fighting something that is bad for you, it attacks part of your own body. This is what happens in a person who has type 1 diabetes: The immune system kills the beta cells (the insulin-producing cells) of the pancreas, which results in high blood glucose levels.

The attack on the beta cells doesn’t happen all at once. Early on, most people go through a period when some beta cells still make insulin. This is called the “honeymoon period.” During that time, a person needs to take very little or no insulin.

If  the attack is not stopped in time, all the beta cells will be destroyed, and a person will need to take insulin on a regular basis, either by shots, pens or an insulin pump.

OTHER AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS

Besides type 1 diabetes, the immune system is related to various conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, psoriasis and celiac disease. People who have type 1 diabetes have a high incidence of other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease and celiac disease. Emerging treatments for type 1 diabetes might also help other auto immune conditions.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Understanding that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease has been a big step for scientists working toward finding new treatments, cures and even prevention.

According to some studies, there are promising treatmetions for people who have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. These studies look at ways to preserve beta cell function and protect the beta cells from further damage. Early results have shown that this kind of treatment may result in better blood glucose control with less insulin. Some treatments have also been shown to lessen severe swings of low and high blood glucose levels. In time we’ll know if this also means fewer complications and a better quality of life.

Learn more about clinical studies available for people who have autoimmune diseases at clinicaltrials.gov and for people who have autoimmune type 1 diabetes at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at trials.jdrf.org.

 

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OmnichannelHealth Media, publisher of DiabetesDigest.com, does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.