Type 1 or 2? ( Diabetes )
If you’re just learning about diabetes, you should know that the disease is categorized into two types, called type 1 and type 2.
If a person has type 1 diabetes, their body stops producing insulin, a substance in the body that’s essential for using and storing nutrients. This usually occurs at a young age. People with type 1 diabetes will require insulin injections for life. Without it, they would go into diabetic coma within a day or two. In the past, this disease was called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
People with type 2 diabetes produce enough insulin, especially when they first develop the disease, but their bodies are unable to use it correctly to lower blood glucose. (This is called insulin resistance.) Many people with type 2 diabetes are able to control their blood glucose with diet, exercise, and oral medications. In the past, this type of diabetes was called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). After several years with type 2 diabetes, many people will stop producing insulin and will need to inject it on a regular basis.