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How does type 1 diabetes differ from type 2 diabetes?
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human disease
The routine monitoring of blood pressure levels is an important part of assessing an individual's health. Blood pressure provides information about the amount of blood in circulation and about heart function and thus is an important indicator of disease.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are distinct forms of diabetes mellitus characterized by how they develop and affect the body’s ability to process glucose.
- Type 1 Diabetes: This form accounts for 5 to 10 percent of cases and is primarily caused by autoimmune destruction of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, which house insulin-producing beta cells. It typically develops in childhood or adolescence and requires insulin therapy because the body stops producing the hormone.123
- Type 2 Diabetes: Accounting for about 90 percent of cases, this type is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and insulin deficiency. While it most often occurs in adults, it can affect any age group. Management often involves diet and exercise to improve insulin sensitivity, though oral medications or insulin injections may also be necessary.425
While both conditions result in hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes has a stronger genetic component and is more closely linked to lifestyle factors than type 1.41