No type of diabetes is more severe than another. Both types of diabetes greatly increase the patient’s risk of experiencing some serious complications. Specifically, they can cause blindness and kidney failure. It can also cause heart disease, strokes, and amputations of feet or legs.
Let’s see what the main differences are.
Type 1 diabetes
It affects 10 in 100 people who have diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, ultimately eliminating the body’s insulin production. Without insulin, cells cannot absorb the sugar they need for energy.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes affects 95 out of 100 people with the condition. In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot use insulin and has what is called: insulin resistance. As this type of diabetes worsens, the pancreas can produce less insulin, causing the patient to lack insulin.