Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are the two major forms of diabetes. The causes, symptoms and treatments are different in both cases. So, it is important to know the differences between both the type of diabetes. Here is a detailed list of the major differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
| No. | Type I Diabetes | Type II DIabetes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Also called IDDM (Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) or Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus. | Also called NIDDM(Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) or Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus. |
| 2 | Accounts only for 10 to 20 % of known Diabetics. | Accounts for 80 to 90 % of known Diabetics. |
| 3 | Age of onset is mostly between 12 to 15 years, i.e., before 35 years. | Age of onset is mostly after 35 years of age. |
| 4 | Type I diabetes is because of reduction or complete absence of Insulin hormone secretion. | Type II diabetes is because of deficiency or absence of Insulin receptor. |
| 5 | Insulin deficiency is the main reason and characteristic feature. | Insulin deficiency is only partial. |
| 6 | Pathology is absence of required amount of insulin to carry out the normal metabolism. | Pathology is the absence of receptors, i.e., though insulin is present in needed amounts, it is not being able to be utilized for the metabolic needs of the body because there is no receptor to mediate the effect of insulin on the target tissues which is described as insulin resistance. |
| 7 | There is immune destruction of beta cells of the pancreas which secrete insulin thereby leading to deficiency of insulin. There may be degeneration of beta cells of pancreatic islets, or destruction of beta cells by viral infections, or congenital(by birth) disorder of beta cells, or destruction of beta cells by auto-antibodies which can be seen in some auto immune diseases. | There is no immune destruction of beta cells of the pancreas. |
| 8 | There is no involvement of other endocrine disorders. | There may be involvement of other endocrine disorders, i.e., other endocrine disorders like cushing's syndrome, gigantism, acromegaly which also cause increase in blood glucose levels cause excess stimulation of the beta cells (by the glucose) to secrete more insulin to reduce this blood glucose. This excess stimulation may exhaust the beta cells which is the cause of type II diabetes mellitus. |
| 9 | Mostly has a hereditary cause. | May have a hereditary cause but also sometimes there may not be any hereditary cause. |
| 10 | Insulin is needed for treating. | Insulin may not be so useful in the initial stages of treatment since there is only partial loss of beta cell function, but in later stage of the disease there may be a necessity of insulin because of the exhaustion of beta cells due to insulin resistance phenomenon seen in type II diabetes mellitus. |
| 11 | Insulin resistance is not seen. | Insulin resistance is present. |
| 12 | Type I diabetes cannot be controlled by oral hypoglycaemic agents but needs insulin injection. | Type II diabetes can be controlled by oral hypoglycaemic drugs. |
| 13 | The symptoms appear very rapidly. | The symptoms appear very slowly. |
| 14 | Usually occurs in thin persons but may also occur in obese persons. | Mostly occurs in obese persons, very less common in thin persons.The obesity may be stress induced. |
| 15 | Associated with ketosis. | May or may not be associated with ketosis. |