What does Type I Diabetes mean?
What does Type II Diabetes mean?
What is the difference between both?

Question

Dear lybrate user, there are many classifications of diabetes but the easiest and the most relevant classification divides diabetic patients into two types- type I and type ii. Firstly understand that all diabetic patients have one thing in common- hyperglycemia or increased blood sugar. Type I diabetes is essentially a body situation where there is an absolute deficiency of insulin and hence this type of diabetes can only be controlled with insulin as treatment. Type ii diabetes is not due to deficiency but rather due to ineffectiveness of insulin in the body and hence it can be treated with a number of oral medicines and insulin as well. The pivotal difference between them is this only.

Hanish Gupta · Accepted Answer

Dear lybrate user, there are many classifications of diabetes but the easiest and the most relevant classification divides diabetic patients into two types- type I and type ii. Firstly understand that all diabetic patients have one thing in common- hyperglycemia or increased blood sugar. Type I diabetes is essentially a body situation where there is an absolute deficiency of insulin and hence this type of diabetes can only be controlled with insulin as treatment. Type ii diabetes is not due to deficiency but rather due to ineffectiveness of insulin in the body and hence it can be treated with a number of oral medicines and insulin as well. The pivotal difference between them is this only.

Prabhakar Laxman Jathar · Answer

Lybrate-user, t1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where there are antibodies seen which destroy insulin producing cells, this leads to total deficiency of insulin. Person needs insulin for treatment and for survival. Usually ocurs in much younger age. Earlier called as juvenile diabetes.
T2 is due to either lack of insulin or resistance to its action or both. This is seen in people with over weight and who are very inactive. It can be treated by oral anti diabetes drugs alone or even insulin. Some times both are used together. Dietary control and regular exercise also are required for better control. Plus this is seen spreading with in the families. But also is preventable if modified lifestyle is adapted.

What does Type I Diabetes mean? What does Type II Diabetes mean? What is the difference between both?