Type 2 diabetes usually have normal, or above normal levels of insulin in their bloodstream but unfortunately their cells no longer respond to the insulin properly. It is the most common form of the condition and accounts for up to 90% of all cases of diabetes. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, who are often overweight, but is becoming more and more common in younger age groups, including children, as a result of the increase in obesity in the general population.

Type 2 may go undetected for many years and because people do not usually feel unwell, it is often discovered by chance at a routine medical check-up.

Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood, hence its other name, juvenile diabetes. This condition develops suddenly and insulin injections are nearly always needed as soon as it is diagnosed. The body's immune system attacks the pancreas, killing the islet cells responsible for producing insulin. As a result, the individual requires a constant supply insulin from an outside source (injections) to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes sometimes advances to the point where the individual becomes insulin dependent due to later damage to the pancreas, but this is not considered to be a shift to type 1 diabetes. Type 1 starts as an autoimmune condition which prevents any insulin from being produced at all, while type 2 consists of resistance to insulin (whether produced by the pancreas or injected). In rare instances, a type 2 diabetic may completely stop producing insulin and be forced onto a daily insulin injection regimen, but this does not mean they 'become' a type 1 diabetic.

In many cases, type 2 diabetes can be prevented, kept under control or even reversed by:

• implementing a diet plan to lose weight
• controlling the amount and type of food eaten, and
• monitoring blood sugar levels as directed by your health care practitioner

Type 1 diabetes is incurable and irreversible... however, research is currently being conducted in an attempt to find a way to transplant healthy, insulin producing islet cells into type 1 diabetics.

Early signs of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar, and can include:

• increased urination including during the night-time
• excessive thirst
• hunger
• a change in weight, either an increase or decrease
• fatigue
• blurred vision

Type 2 diabetics may also suffer from an inability to easily heal wounds, severe headaches and tingling in their hands and feet.

Type 1 diabetics are placed on an insulin regimen, while type 2 diabetics are evaluated and a plan put in place to help minimize side effects and halt or reverse the progression of their condition. Diet is important to all diabetics... even diabetics on insulin need to monitor their food intake carefully in order to accurately calculate their medication doses and keep their blood sugar levels stable.

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