Managing Different Types of Diabetes

Know Your Diagnosis

While many people are already familiar with diabetes and the management thereof, the average person might not know about the different types of the disease and the difference in treatment.  If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important that you are well-informed about what this means, and the relationship between diabetes management and insulin.

In the interest of keeping everyone informed, let’s take a look at the two chronic forms of this illness and what treatment options are available to people with diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that are related to how the body processes sugar (glucose) in the blood.  Through the process of digestion, food is converted into glucose which supplies energy to cells in the body.  The bodies of people with diabetes are unable to regulate the amount of glucose in their blood.  Blood glucose levels that are too high or too low can cause difficult symptoms and, over time, severe health problems that are potentially fatal if left untreated.

What are the different types of diabetes?

There are four major categories of diabetes.  The two chronic (long-lasting) forms of diabetes are called type-1 and type-2. 

Type-1 diabetes is a genetic autoimmune disorder in which the pancreas is unable to produce a hormone called insulin that regulates blood sugar levels.  People with type-1 diabetes are usually diagnosed in early childhood or adolescence. 

Type-2 diabetes, on the other hand, is when the body produces insulin, but it is unable to use it effectively.  It is also called insulin resistance.  This form of diabetes is usually diagnosed later in life (around middle-age) and the exact causes are not fully understood by scientists.  Contributing factors to type-2 diabetes are thought to be at least partially genetic and also informed by lifestyle factors, such as weight, lack of exercise, and diet.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated, but not so high that they qualify as type-2 diabetes.  Though prediabetes can lead to serious health complications, it  may be reversed through lifestyle changes.

The last major category of diabetes is gestational diabetes.  Some people develop a form of diabetes while pregnant.  Though this condition must be carefully monitored for the safety of both the parent and child, it usually subsides after pregnancy.

For the purpose of this discussion, we will be focusing on chronic diabetes, type-1 and type-2.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Though an estimated 37.3 Americans have chronic diabetes, it’s important to note that as many as 1 in 5 of these individuals do not know that they have it.  People may be diagnosed with the disease during routine health checkups or after noticing symptoms of diabetes. 



The standard test for diabetes is a test for A1C, or the percentage of blood cells that are carrying sugar.  Acceptable levels of A1C are said to be below 5.7%, while a diabetes diagnosis is ascribed to those with over 6.5%.  Those in between these numbers are diagnosed with prediabetes.

How is diabetes treated, and what does it have to do with insulin?

As individuals with type-1 diabetes cannot produce the hormone insulin on their own, they must regularly inject it in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.  Treatment for type-1 diabetes requires careful monitoring of diet and insulin infusions are life-long. 

People with type-2 diabetes, on the other hand, produce their own insulin, but are resistant to it.  Managing type-2 diabetes usually entails lifestyle change, including exercise and a health-conscious diet that avoids processed foods and sugar.  People with type-2 diabetes may also take certain drugs to lower their A1C levels.  Depending on the progression of the disease, insulin injections may become necessary.

The primary difference in managing the two different forms of chronic diabetes in terms of administering insulin is that all type-1 diabetes diagnoses require life-long insulin infusions through injections, insulin pumps, or other methods.  People with type-2 diabetes may never need extra insulin, provided that their condition is adequately managed through medication and lifestyle changes.

If you have questions about the type of management that is right for you or your loved one, please do not hesitate to reach out.  We have a complete suite of diabetes management tools and treatments that will work for you.