Diabetes. Type 1 vs. Type 2

I am so, so, sooo sick of people thinking type 2 & type 1 are the same. Or people who have type 2 thinking they "know" how you feel. Hello?!! You don't!! Just because the word diabetes is in there doesn't mean it's the same at all! I know a little girl with a form of diabetes (I can't remember the official name) but hers has nothing to do with her blood sugar. Hers deals with her sodium. Now does that even sound like any type of diabetes you know?? More than likely, no, it doesn't. So what makes type 1 & 2 the same?? Nothing. You don't know what its like to stick yourself 5-8 times a day or how you have to worry & make sure your GUM is carb free & you can't even begin to think about taking a sip of your friends soda. Do you know any type 2's that pay that much attention to their intake? I don't. In fact they pretty much seem pretty care free. Maybe not all of them but if you're taking a pill for your diabetes or only giving 1 or 2 shots a day don't even begin to think you know how I feel! I'm so sick of hearing type 2 people complain about their diabetes or say it sucks. Really?? Did you know I would LOVE to be type 2 instead of type 1??! I would love to have the opportunity to go to the gym & eat right to get rid of my diabetes. (I know not all type 2's can do that but it sure does make me mad when you sit there & complain about it instead of giving that a try!!) If you have a disease you could make better or possibly get rid of & you're not trying then shame on you! It's your fault & I feel no sympathy for you.


Here is a chart I stole from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/riva-greenberg/the-type-1-versus-type-2_b_611662.html

Characteristics of Disease	Type 1	Type 2
Risk Factors Very Different	Having a parent or sibling with type 1. Having another autoimmune condition. Environmental factors like stress or exposure to toxins. Possibly drinking cow's milk in infancy.	Poor diet. Being overweight. Being sedentary. Genetics. Being over the age of 45. Belonging to high-risk ethnic group. You had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing over 9 pounds. Certain medications. Possibly Agent Orange.
Symptoms Some overlapping	Extremely high blood sugar, thirst, frequent urination,  weight loss, hunger, fatigue.	High blood sugar, thirst, waking in the middle of the night to pee, waking with a headache, fatigue, high blood pressure, urinary tract infection, neuropathy.
Nature of Illness Very Different	Autoimmune condition-  your cells kill off your  insulin-producing (beta)  cells. Body no longer makes insulin.	Insulin-inefficiency. Body makes insulin, in fact may make too much, but it isn't used properly by the body.
Onset Very Different	Quick: Generally within  a few months	Slow: Generally several years after blood sugars begin to rise
Treatment Same to varying degree	Intense daily  self-management of food, exercise, insulin and stress. Must take multiple  injections of insulin or infusion through  insulin pump.	Daily self-management of food, exercise, pills and stress. Over time roughly 40% may need to use insulin. If so, multiple injections of insulin or infusion through insulin pump.
Age when you get it Typically different	Typically childhood or teen, but can occur at any age	Typically adults, but can occur at any age. On the rise in children due to obesity
Number of U.S. Patients  Very different	3 million (about 5% of the total of people who have diabetes)	23 million (about 95% of the total of people who have diabetes)
Complications Same to varying degrees	Damage to large and small blood vessels throughout the body which causes blindness, retinopathy, heart disease, kidney disease, amputation, hypoglycemia,  hypoglycemic unawareness,gastroparesis,ketoacidosis (more prevelant in type 1), earlier mortality.	Damage to large and small blood vessels throughout the body which causes blindness, retinopathy, heart disease, kidney disease, amputation, hypoglycemia,  hypoglycemic unawareness,gastroparesis, ketoacidosis(less prevalent in type 2) earlier mortality.
Preventable Very Different	No	Yes, for many with healthy diet and keeping weight in control
Reversible Very Different	No	Yes, for many with healthy diet and keeping weight in control

Here is a video that I recommend that explains diabetes. (:
What is diabetes?