1 Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Compare how type 1 and type 2 diabetes develop, recognize their overlapping symptoms, and understand why symptoms, age, and body size alone do not identify diabetes type.
The two types and their mechanisms
Diabetes develops when is too high. The two types described here have different underlying mechanisms: involves loss of -producing cells, while involves and may also involve inadequate production over time.
How each type develops
In , the immune system destroys , which produce . As a result, the body has little or no .
In , body tissues become resistant to . The pancreas may initially be able to produce more , but it may eventually be unable to make enough to compensate for the resistance.
Shared symptoms and differences in onset
Both types can cause increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. Unexplained weight loss may occur, particularly with , but it does not occur in every person.
Type 1 symptoms often appear quickly. may develop gradually, and some people have no noticeable symptoms.
Interpreting symptoms and age
Rapid onset and unexplained weight loss can be features of , but symptoms alone do not reliably identify the type. These symptoms can occur with diabetes and warrant medical assessment; they do not prove or rule out .
Either type can occur at any age. Type 1 is not limited to children, and Type 2 can occur in children and teenagers as well as adults. Age or body size alone does not establish which type a person has.