Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: What Makes Them Different?

Do you know? As per the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas (2025), approximately 11 per cent of the adult population (aged between 20 to 79 years) has diabetes. Even more, 40% of people are unaware that they have any such condition. Not only this, according to the World Health Organisation, the cases of diabetes skyrocketed from 200 million in 1990 to a staggering 830 million in 2022. ^{1, 2} Ain’t these numbers alarming? Yes, they’re and early detection and awareness can make a lot of difference while facing serious health complications.

While most people are familiar with diabetes, not everyone is aware that it has two primary types. In this blog, we are going to talk about type 1 vs type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we will deep dive into their causes, symptoms, and management approaches. So, let’s begin. 

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition where your blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high. This happens when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use it. Insulin is the key hormone produced by the pancreas that enables cells to absorb glucose for energy. Without adequate insulin function, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to various health complications like heart disease, nerve damage, and vision problems. ^{3, 4} 

Diabetes may sound like one condition, but it actually has two main types - Type 1 and Type 2, each with its own causes, symptoms, and management methods. Let’s understand their differences to manage the condition effectively.

What Is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. This means your body cannot produce enough insulin, and you must rely on insulin therapy to manage your blood sugar levels. About 5–10% of all diabetes cases are Type 1, and it's often diagnosed in children and young adults, though it can develop at any age. 

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

In Type 2 diabetes, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or your cells become resistant to insulin, making it hard for glucose to enter your cells and be used for energy. This is the most common type of diabetes, and it typically affects adults, although children can also develop it. 

Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: Key Differences 

Features	Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
Cause	The body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.	The body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin.
Type	Autoimmune condition	Hormonal condition
Can it affect kids?	Usually diagnosed in children and young adults	Mainly affects adults; however, children can have it too.

 

Causes: Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone made by special cells in the pancreas called beta cells. Its job is to help glucose enter your cells, where it's stored and used for energy. In people with Type 1 diabetes, these beta cells are damaged, so they can't produce enough insulin, or sometimes none at all. ^{6, 8, 9}

When there's not enough insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream instead of entering your cells. This is called hyperglycemia. As a result, your body can't use glucose for energy, leading to symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. The exact cause is still unknown, but it's an autoimmune disorder where your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas. This process can be triggered by environmental factors, such as certain viral infections. There's also a genetic link, meaning you may inherit a tendency to develop autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes from your parents. 

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by two problems: ⁷

• Cells in the body don't respond well to insulin, so they cannot absorb enough glucose from the bloodstream. 
• The pancreas can't produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control. 

Key factors that contribute to Type 2 diabetes include being overweight and not getting enough physical activity. 

Symptoms: Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Its symptoms may appear suddenly and include: 

• Bed-wetting in children who have never wet the bed during the night
• Feeling very hungry
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling irritable or having other mood changes
• Feeling tired and weak
• Having blurry vision

Type 2 Diabetes

In comparison to type 1 diabetes, symptoms for type 2 diabetes appear a little slowly. it includes

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Hunger or increased appetite
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

Risk Factors for Type 1 Diabetes

Some factors can increase your risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, including: 

• Having a parent or sibling with Type 1 diabetes slightly increases your risk.
• Certain genes can make you more likely to develop the condition.
• Type 1 diabetes is more common in countries farther from the equator. ¹⁰
• While it can occur at any age, Type 1 diabetes often appears in two age groups: 4-7 years old and 10-14 years old.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes:

Several factors can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, like: ¹¹

• Being overweight or obese.
• Storing fat around the belly (more than 40 inches for men, more than 35 inches for women)
• Having a sedentary lifestyle and not being physically active.
• Having a parent or sibling with Type 2 diabetes
• Certain groups, such as Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Island people, are at higher risk
• You’re at risk when you have low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglycerides
• Having had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may also cause irregular periods, excess hair growth, and obesity. 

How To Diagnose Type 1 Diabetes?

If you or your child shows symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, your doctor will likely order several tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests include: 

• Blood Glucose Test: Measures your current blood sugar levels. This can include:
  
  • Random blood glucose test – taken at any time, without fasting 
  • Fasting blood glucose test – taken after an overnight fast.
• A1c Test: Measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.
• Antibody Test: Checks for autoantibodies that indicate Type 1 diabetes.

To assess your overall health and check for complications, your healthcare professional may also order: 

• Basic Metabolic Panel: This test checks a sample of your blood for 8 different substances. It includes glucose, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, creatinine, carbon dioxide and BUN. This test gives key details about how your body manages fluids, uses food for energy, and how well your kidneys are functioning. ¹²
• Urinalysis: A urine test to check for ketones, which can indicate a serious complication called diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Arterial Blood Gas Test: A blood test that measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood.

How To Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes?

Your doctor might use the following blood tests to diagnose Type 2 diabetes: 

• Fasting plasma glucose test: Measures blood sugar after an 8-hour fast (result of 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes)
• Random plasma glucose test: Measures blood sugar at any time (result of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes)
• A1C test: Measures average blood sugar levels over 2-3 months (result of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes)

In some cases, an autoantibody test may be ordered to rule out Type 1 diabetes.

Treatment: Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes?

People with Type 1 diabetes need to take synthetic insulin daily, multiple times a day, to survive and stay healthy. They also need to keep their blood sugar levels within a target range. Managing Type 1 diabetes can be complex, as many factors affect blood sugar levels. The three main components of Type 1 diabetes management are:

Type 1 Diabetes

1. Insulin therapy: Taking synthetic insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. 

2. Blood glucose monitoring: Regularly checking blood sugar levels to make informed decisions. 

3. Carbohydrate counting: Tracking carbohydrate intake to balance insulin doses and blood sugar levels. 

Type 2 Diabetes

The core features of Type 2 diabetes management include: 

1. Lifestyle changes: Increasing physical activity and making dietary adjustments
2. Blood sugar monitoring: Regularly tracking blood sugar levels
3. Medication: Taking prescribed medications to control blood sugar levels

These components work together to help manage Type 2 diabetes and prevent complications.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor if you have symptoms like constant thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, or slow-healing wounds. Those with a family history or other risk factors should get regular check-ups. Early testing at LifeCell Diagnostics can confirm your type and help prevent serious complications.

Conclusion

Knowing whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or if you’re at risk, can make all the difference in protecting your long-term health. Early diagnosis means you can start managing the condition before complications set in.

With the Ayushman Diabetes Care Advance package from LifeCell Diagnostics, you get a comprehensive health check with 54 tests, covering everything from fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, lipid profile, kidney function tests, urine examination, and microalbumin ratio. These tests give you a complete picture of your blood sugar control, organ health, and potential risk factors — all in one test.

Don’t leave your health to chance. Book your Ayushman Diabetes Care Advance test today and take the smart step toward early detection, better control, and a healthier future.