Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body handles blood glucose. There are different types, with type 1 and type 2 being the most common. Although they share similar symptoms, they have different origins and treatments.
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas responsible for producing insulin. In type 2, however, the problem is usually the body's resistance to insulin and factors such as overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and age.
The age of onset also makes a significant difference: type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, while type 2 diabetes most frequently appears in adults, although it now also affects overweight young people.
Another key difference lies in insulin production. In type 1, the pancreas almost completely stops producing insulin, forcing the body to use insulin from the outset. In type 2, the body still produces insulin, but doesn't use it efficiently, and production may decline over time.
Finally, the prevalence is different: type 1 diabetes accounts for approximately 5 to 10% of cases, while type 2 is much more common, reaching 90 to 95%. Therefore, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is one of the best ways to prevent and control the latter.