What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually affects children, teens, and young adults. It causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin because the body mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

 

Is Type 1 diabetes the same as Type 2 diabetes?

No. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, and Type 1 diabetics must take insulin for the rest of their lives to survive. Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by poor eating and lifestyle choices and develops over time. Type 2 is when the body can’t utilize insulin produced in the body effectively, or the body produces less insulin. Type 2 diabetics can treat their condition with pills, diet, and exercise. Type 2 diabetes can be reversed. The two are very different.

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Is Type 1 diabetes more common than Type 2 diabetes?

NO. Type 1 diabetes is rare. There are about 37 million people in the USA with diabetes, and only about 6% of them have Type 1 diabetes. There are also over 97 million people in the US with prediabetes. Prediabetes means a person has high blood glucose and hasn’t been officially diagnosed with type 2; however, if untreated will lead to type 2 diabetes within 5 or more years. Prediabetes never leads to Type 1diabetes. The majority of what people hear about “diabetes” is ONLY talking about type 2. Unfortunately, they often don’t specify which one is being referred to, and this is what contributes to the confusion between the two.

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Is Type 1 diabetes caused by overeating, too much sugar, lack of exercise, or something else the person did? NO.

 

Can Type 1 diabetes be prevented?

No. This is a disease that doctors don’t fully understand what triggers it. This is NOT like type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented. This is not the Type 1 diabetic’s fault.

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Can Type 1 Diabetes be cured?

It can only be cured with a pancreas transplant. However, new research with stem cells are showing some promising results that could lead to a cure.