what is the difference

[hebennett]

What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
My boyfriend is type 2,but told me the other day that because he was now on insulin that he was a type 1.I didn't think you could change from one to another.

[jillybean]

It is possible to have both, but just because he's on insulin doesn't mean he's type 1. Many (maybe even most?) type 2s go on insulin at some point, and there are even some docs who put newly diagnosed type 2s on insulin right away before anything else. Being on insulin does not magically turn a type 2 into a type 1.

[matingara]

as i may have said before (i know i have thought this before :)) the whole T1, T2 thing is invented by clerks and administrators who think the whole world needs to be classified to death.

i blame Carl Linnaeus for this. (if you don't get that reference - please look it up - as it is QUITE humorous).

don't get wound up in the classification melee. just understand what keeps him healthy. that should be keeping blood sugars as close to normal as often as is humanly possible. the rest is just "noise".

:)

-- Joel.

[Subby]

Putting aside a whole lot of other things...

The result of getting/developing type 1 is (usually) fast destruction of the body's ability to produce insulin.

The result of getting/developing type 2 is (usually) slow destruction of the body's ability to produce insulin.

You can see how things would merge between such "types". As Joel so poetically puts it labels are often a bit academic (and often wrong anyway), as long as you do the correct things for your body at the time. But in the normal run of things, type 2s who progress to needing insulin don't consider themselves turned into type 1s (nor does the medical fraternity). OK so labels are often useless generalisations, but they are often there for a reason - clarity - or safety - for example a type 1 may specify so that people are aware of the degree of reliance on insulin (we don't necessarily like to label ourselves - but sometimes it seems the right decision to let people know they should NOT throw out that insulin in the communal fridge, etc). In the interests of this kind of labeling, an idea might be to refer to himself as "insulin dependent". They are not necessarily pretty or flattering words, but they are tried and tested to convey the information that insulin is a required part of life, if that is the intent.

[JediSkipdogg]

A type 1 cannot survive without insulin. A type 2 can for the most part through other methods and once those other methods fail, insulin is needed.

Another general thought is type 1 is the body's own destruction of insulin producing cells. A type 2 is generally thought of as insulin resistant or lack of production of sufficient insulin. Now, there's alot of new crossovers coming out in the recent years, which just makes it generally impossible for people to get proper treatment since some doctors and insurance companies are so set on the type and not the cause.

[matingara]

As Joel so poetically puts it labels are often a bit academic (and often wrong anyway), as long as you do the correct things for your body at the time. But in the normal run of things...

wow - poetry was never my strength! i feel flattered in a somewhat oblique and tenuous way...

[Subby]

wow - poetry was never my strength! i feel flattered in a somewhat oblique and tenuous way...

Ha! At least being oblique and tenuous you could assume it might just be more genuine than plain out-and-out flattery :)

[lorilei]

Now, there's alot of new crossovers coming out in the recent years, which just makes it generally impossible for people to get proper treatment since some doctors and insurance companies are so set on the type and not the cause.

ohhh i love the idea of being a crossover...kind of cutting edge, no?

[JediSkipdogg]

ohhh i love the idea of being a crossover...kind of cutting edge, no?

That just means the doctor will prescribe the wrong treatment to you time and time again guessing what type you are. And then after that the insurance will deny you saying you must be type 1 or 2 because there are no other types. By then your stress is so high you will need to see another doctor for that problem. Then insurance will deny you and you will need to see a psych to contain your rage. Eventually, you'll go wacko and blow up an insurance building.

Ok, that hasn't happened yet, but I'm kinda surprised it hasn't. :eek:

[lorilei]

easy kev...i was making light...no, having a misdiagnosis would be very detrimental...and the insurance thing can really be the icing on the cake, especially as it seems harder for type 2 to get some of the advanced insulins and pumps and strips etc...sorry to set you off blowing up buildings...

[EdnBama]

And for the newbies that might read this, let's clarify ...

A type 1 cannot survive without insulin. A type 2 can for the most part through other methods and once those other methods fail, insulin is needed.

Jedi is referring to insulin injections.

Type 2's do need "insulin", but their body, at least at the time of diagnosis, may be producing a sufficient supply, so they don't need injections.

[JediSkipdogg]

easy kev...i was making light...no, having a misdiagnosis would be very detrimental...and the insurance thing can really be the icing on the cake, especially as it seems harder for type 2 to get some of the advanced insulins and pumps and strips etc...sorry to set you off blowing up buildings...

I was throwing some sarcasm out there.

And for the newbies that might read this, let's clarify ...



Jedi is referring to insulin injections.

Type 2's do need "insulin", but their body, at least at the time of diagnosis, may be producing a sufficient supply, so they don't need injections.

You are correct. Sorry I didn't specify that. EVERYONE needs insulin, it's just how one gets it and or produces it that is different.

[Hammer]

The best way to describe it is like this.....type 1's are insulin dependent. That means that they don't produce any insulin and need to take insulin shots to make up for their inability to produce it.

Type 2's produce insulin, but their body is resistant to it. That means that their body doesn't utilize their own production of insulin. At some point, a type 2 will become insulin dependent, but they are still insulin resistant, so they are really both....type one and type 2. They don't produce any insulin but their body is still resistant to insulin.

A person who is a type 2 will never become a type 1. A type 2 can become both, but will always be insulin resistant.....meaning that they are still a type 2, whereas a person who is a type 1 will almost never become a type 2....a person who is resistant to insulin.

It's a fine line but those of us who are type 2 can at some point become insulin dependent, but we are still insulin resistant. We can take insulin shots but our body resists using it, so we need to take larger shots of insulin.

[Caravaggio]

I read recently that it is possible for a Type 1 to develop insulin resistance and therefore be both Type 1 (inability to produce insulin) and Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance).

[lorilei]

I have heard this also carvaggio and believe we have severald "double D's" (keep it clean boys) out there...i am also under the impression that the larger the amt of exogeneous insulin and the longer the duration you have been injecting can result in resistance...and don't high bG numbers in and of them selves often come with some resistance (ie after shooting above a certain number, many cannot seem to get back down due to some kind of uptake issue...not sure if it is the same mechanism as type 2 but sure sounds similar)...

[davef]

What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
My boyfriend is type 2,but told me the other day that because he was now on insulin that he was a type 1.I didn't think you could change from one to another.

The other posters have addressed the question as to the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 (and combination of both) I would like to add that it would be in your boyfriend's own interest for him to learn more about his disease. His Doctor who put him on insulin should really have explained more about why your BF now needs to use insulin. Do you know how well your BF is controlling his blood sugar levels? Does he test regularly? Is he aware how important testing is, especially to watch for going low (Hypo)?

Perhaps your BF would like to join us here.