type 2 or 1 diabetes?

[Natasha K]

what is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? How do you know which type u have if you are tested positive? which age group is likely to be affected by which type? please be thorough about it.

[dingding]

Sorry to be short with you, but this is one of those very basic questions that you should be looking up on the internet and not expecting people on Y/A to detail out for you before you try to find the answer yourself. There are thousands of websites out there that can explain this in detail for you, here's just one of them:

http://www.texaschildrens.org/Parents/TipsArticles/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=789

[Kassie]

There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Although they are both forms of diabetes, they are two different diseases. Only 5% of all diabetics have type 1.

Type 1 is an auto-immune disease and usually occurs in childhood, which is why it's also called Juvenile Diabetes. It's not caused from eating too much junk food, sugar, or having a poor lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent type 1 diabetes and there is currently no cure, although scientists say they are very close.

Type 2 on the other hand, usually developes in adults and developes slowy over a period of time. This is usually caused by obesity or by poor diet and lifestyle. Type 2 actually can be prevented.

Here are some of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. Some of them might apply to type 2 also, but I'm not completely sure...

*Increased thirst
*Frequent urination
*Increased appetite
*Drowsiness, Lethargy
*Sudden weight loss
*Sugar in urine
*Sudden vision changes
*Heavy, labored breathing
*Stupor, Unconsciousness
*Fruity, Sweet, or wine - like odor on breath

Hope this helps!

[MamaSmurf]

Type one is insulin dependent and the pancreas does not produce any insulin. It usually shows up anywhere from a few months old (this is when my daughter was diagnosed) to about 25 to 30 years of age. Usually type 2 is diagnosed later in life, 35 and older, although it can happen much earlier. It is not insulin dependent, although it can become that way. The pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the body does not use it properly. Sometimes you can control it with diet. It is associated with over weight people, although many type 2 have never been overweight nor had bad diets. Both types can be hereditary. Type 2 have to be very careful of their diet, even if on insulin and other medications. It is harder to control their blood sugar. Type 1 can take extra insulin when they have higher blood sugar readings and it can be a little easier to control readings because of this. However they need to watch their diet also. The doctor will determine what type you have, it is not always determined by age alone. Tests will tell him. If you are diagnosed with either type, go to lots of diabetes education classes. You should always be up to date on a disease that you have. And you should also have a nutritionist or dietitian