What is the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes?
Disease description:
I accidentally overheard Dad saying that Grandpa has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but I don't understand what it means. What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Pan Yongyuan
The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes lies in their causes. Regardless of the type, once diagnosed, timely medical treatment is essential to prevent worsening of the condition. In type 1 diabetes, the body cannot secrete insulin due to impaired pancreatic islet function, requiring exogenous insulin to control blood glucose levels. Blood sugar levels tend to fluctuate significantly, making patients more prone to complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis. In contrast, type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance combined with insufficient insulin secretion, and blood glucose can usually be managed with oral hypoglycemic medications.
