Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Diabetes
Greg Foot explains the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the role insulin plays in controlling glucose levels
A serious disease in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar. is a condition where the A simple sugar used by cells for respiration. levels remain too high. It can be treated by injecting A hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and can be produced by genetically modified bacteria.. The extra insulin causes the liver to convert glucose into Animals store glucose as glycogen in their liver and muscle tissues., which reduces the blood glucose level.
There are two types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disorder in which the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. This usually occurs and can be detected from an early age.
Type 1 diabetes is characterised by uncontrolled high blood glucose levels and it can be controlled by injecting insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes have to monitor their blood sugar levels throughout the day. Their levels of physical activity and their The type and amount of food consumed by people. affect the amount of insulin needed.
They can help to control their blood glucose level by being careful with their diet, and eat foods that will not cause large increases in blood sugar level, and by exercising, which can lower blood glucose levels due to increased The chemical change that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy that organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of respiration. in the muscles.
Type 2 diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the person's body cells no longer respond to insulin produced by the pancreas. This includes the liver, which becomes less able to convert glucose into glycogen.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in older people. It can be managed by a Food belonging to the food group consisting of sugars, starch and cellulose. Carbohydrates are vital for energy in humans and are stored as fat if eaten in excess. In plants, carbohydrates are important for photosynthesis. controlled diet and an exercise regime.
When carbohydrate is digested it is broken down into glucose, which raises the overall blood glucose level. Reducing the amount of carbohydrate in the diet helps reduce this effect.
There is a correlation between rising levels of The medical term for being very overweight, owing to the excessive accumulation of body fat. in the general population and increasing levels of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
| Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes | |
| Stage of life at which condition normally occurs | Childhood or early teens | Adulthood |
| Ability of pancreatic cells to produce insulin | Unable to produce insulin | Able to produce insulin |
| Sensitivity of cells to insulin | Cells have the normal number of insulin receptors on their surface. They respond to the presence of insulin | Cells have a decreased number of insulin receptors on their surface, making them less sensitive to insulin. This means they can鈥檛 convert glucose to glycogen |
| Treatment | Regular injections of insulin and a careful diet | Exercise, diet control, weight loss (in some cases insulin) |
| Stage of life at which condition normally occurs | |
| Type 1 Diabetes | Childhood or early teens |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Adulthood |
| Ability of pancreatic cells to produce insulin | |
| Type 1 Diabetes | Unable to produce insulin |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Able to produce insulin |
| Sensitivity of cells to insulin | |
| Type 1 Diabetes | Cells have the normal number of insulin receptors on their surface. They respond to the presence of insulin |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Cells have a decreased number of insulin receptors on their surface, making them less sensitive to insulin. This means they can鈥檛 convert glucose to glycogen |
| Treatment | |
| Type 1 Diabetes | Regular injections of insulin and a careful diet |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Exercise, diet control, weight loss (in some cases insulin) |
In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels will rapidly increase following a meal. Some of the glucose will be removed by the kidneys and result in glucose being present in urine.
Diabetes can be diagnosed using the glucose tolerance test. Patients are asked to drink a glucose solution and then their glucose levels are monitored for a period of time after consumption. A diabetic individuals blood glucose level will increase to higher level than that of a non-diabetic and will take longer to return to normal levels.