No doubt we have an idea of what diabetes is; the symptoms and therapy/remedy for the disorder. Yet, some of us might have a hard time in grasping or differentiating Type-1 diabetes from Type-2 diabetes, and that's the aim of this article: To bring to your fingertips in 3 minutes or less, the differences between both types of diabetes.
Diabetes is a disorder characterized by persistently high level of blood glucose (usually above the normal range of 110 - 140mg/dL). The level of glucose in the blood is regulated majorly by the actions of insulin and glucagon (pancreatic hormones). Insulin is also referred to as the antidiabetogenic hormone, as it greatly aids in reducing the blood-glucose level. As expected, the hormones which increases blood-glucose levels are referred to as diabetogenic hormones.
CLASSIFICATIONS and DIFFERENTIATIONS
Diabetes may be Primary or Secondary:
Primary diabetes is a diabetes that is unrelated to another disease.
Secondary diabetes is a diabetes that occurs due to damage or disease of the pancreas.
It is under Primary diabetes that we have the recent classification of diabetes: Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes.
1.) TYPE-1 DIABETES
This type of diabetes occurs due to the deficiency of insulin because of the destruction of Ɓ-cells of Islets of Langerhans.
B-cells of Islets of Langerhans are one of the 3 main types of cells that makes up the Islets of Langerhans, and they secrete insulin; the other types of cells are: A-cells (glucagon-secreting cells) and D-cells (somatostatin-secreting cells).
Type-1 diabetes is usually referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), as the patient require insulin injections. It usually manifests before 40years of age, though it may occur at any age of life. Its symptoms appear rapidly. Infants or children who develop Type-1 diabetes are said to have juvenile diabetes.
Type-1 diabetes may be linked to acidosis (a clinical condition in which excess acid tends to cause increased concentration of Hydrogen-ions in the blood ie. low pH level) or ketosis (a clinical condition characterized by high concentration of ketone bodies in tissues); but is NOT associated with obesity.
Causes of Type-1 Diabetes
Destruction of Ɓ-cells of Islets of Langerhans by viruses.
Congenital disorder of the Ɓ-cells.
Degeneration of Ɓ-cells of Islets of Langerhans.
In young individuals, Maturity Onset Diabetes, a rare inherited form of diabetes occurs before 25years of age due to hereditary defects in insulin secretion.
2.) TYPE-2 DIABETES
This type of diabetes occurs due to inability of insulin receptors to give response to insulin, and this results in insulin resistance. In simplified terms, the body is unable to utilise insulin.
Most patients have this type of diabetes, and it usually occurs after 40 years of age. Type-2 diabetes is commonly referred to as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It is often associated with obesity.
Causes of Type-2 Diabetes
It is worthy to note that Ɓ-cells of Islets of Langerhans are normal, but insulin receptors on cell membranes may be absent or abnormal, thus resulting in insulin resistance.
Common cause of insulin resistance include:
Stress.
Bad eating habits and physical inactivity (leading to obesity).
Genetic disorders.
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Thanks for the education on diabetes,very much appreciated bro