Diabetes otherwise known as Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is described as a metabolic disorder in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for
energy
The fuel that our body needs is called Glucose (sugar). Glucose comes from the food such as breads,
cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables and also made in your liver and muscles. Our
blood carries Glucose to all of our body's cells to use for energy.
To use Glucose, our body needs Insulin. Insulin is the hormone made by a gland in our body called
pancreas. It regulates blood glucose by stimulating the removal of Glucose from the blood and its
uptake into muscle, liver and fat cells where it can be stored for energy.
There are two types of Diabetes,
Type 1 Diabetes or DM1 is a insulin dependent diabetes. DM1 is where our body makes too little or no
insulin at all.
Type 2 Diabetes or DM2 is a non-insulin dependent diabetes, DM2 is where our body cannot use the
insulin it makes.
Fun facts: did you know that DM2 or diabetes type 2 can be prevented through having a healthy set of
meal plan or food choice, physical activity, and weight loss? It can be controlled with these same
activities, but insulin or oral medication also may be necessary.

What is diabetes type 1 and type 2?

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. These two diabetes types have
several key differences, for instance the differences in cause, symptoms, characteristics, management,
also relating to whom it affects and what happens in the body because of this disease.
The easiest way to find out the differences, as well as similarities between the two, is through
comparing the type 1 with type 2 diabetes, comparisons will be made across the various sections in
these following slides.

Recommended target blood glucose level ranges for non-diabetic and diabetes type 1 and type 2
For the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood glucose level in humans is about 4 mmol/L or 72
mg/dL.3-5

Target glucose levels

by type

Glucose levels
before meals

Glucose levels
2 hours after meals

Non-diabetic

4.0 to 5.9
mmol/L

Under 7.8
mmol/L

Diabetes type 2

4 to 7 mmol/L

Under 8.5
mmol/L

Diabetes type 1

4 to 7 mmol/L

Under 9 mmol/L

Children with diabetes type 1

4 to 8 mmol/L

Under 10 mmol/L

What causes diabetes type 1 and type 2?

Diabetes may arise because the pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin, are destroyed by an
autoimmune disorder, giving rise to type I diabetes. Alternatively, the body cells may not respond to
insulin that is being made at the proper levels (insulin resistance) resulting in type 2 diabetes, often as a
result of obesity, and deficient insulin secretion.
Insulin use not only prevents hyperglycemic emergencies, but also is the best safeguard to prevent the
long-term complications of diabetes by correcting fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia.
Both of these major diabetes types are believed to include different stages of disease, ranging from
non-insulin-requiring to insulin-requiring for control or survival.

DIABETES TYPE 1

DIABETES TYPE 2
D

Cause

Beta cells in pancreas are being attacked

by body's own cells and therefore can not
produce insulin to take sugar out of the
blood stream. Insulin is not produced.

Diet related insulin release is so large

and frequent that receptor cells have
become less sensitive to the insulin.
This insulin resistance results in less
sugar being removed from the blood.

Genetic
basis

Possibly. In most cases of type 1 diabetes,

the patient would need to inherit risk
factors from both parents.

Type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to

family history and lineage than type 1.

Bodily
effects

Thought to be triggered by autoimmune

destruction of the beta cells. Autoimmune
attack may occur following a viral infection
such as mumps, rubella cytomegalovirus

Appears to be related to aging, inactive

lifestyle, genetic influence and obesity.

Climate

One trigger might be related to cold

weather. Type 1 diabetes develops more
often in winter than summer and is more
common in places with cold climates.

Diet

Early diet may also play a role. Type 1

diabetes is less common in people who
were breastfed and in those who first ate
solid foods at later ages.

Obesity tends to run in families, and

families tend to have similar eating and
exercise habits

Signs and symptoms of diabetes type 1 and type 2

There are numerous medical consequences of persistently high levels of blood glucose. The most
serious involve kidney failure, eye problems (blindness) and increased risk of cardiovascular problems
(e.g.,Heart attacks and stroke).

Diabetes type 1

Diabetes type 2
Very thirsty
Urinating frequently
Rapid weight loss

Very thirsty

Warning signs

Feeling very hungry

Urinating frequently

Feeling extreme weakness and

fatigue

Rapid weight loss

Nausea, vomiting, irritability

Feeling very hungry

Blurred vision

Feeling extreme weakness and

fatigue
Nausea, vomiting, irritability.

Excessive itching
Skin infections
Sores that heal slowly
Dry, itchy skin
Pins and needles or numbness
in feet.

Commonly physical
attributes found

Mostly normal or thin.

Mostly overweight or obese.

Onset

Rapid (weeks) - often present

acutely with ketoacidosis.

Slow (years).

Complications

Diabetic coma or ketoacidosis

(from high blood sugar)
High blood pressure
Hypoglycemia(low blood sugar)
Nephropathy
Blindness
Heart attack

Diabetic coma or ketoacidosis

(from high blood sugar)
High blood pressure
Hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar)
Nephropathy

Diabetes type 2

Diabetes type 1

Blindness
Kidney disease

Heart attack

Stroke

Kidney disease

Neuropathy
Amputation.

Stroke
Neuropathy
Amputation.