Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly kills the insulin-producing cells in the body. With all of these cells gone, the body produces no insulin, causing blood sugar to rise.
Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age and in people of every race, shape, and size.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes; however, it is possible to live a normal, healthy life with the disease. Type 1 diabetes is controlled by managing blood sugar through eating food (to increase blood sugar) and administering insulin (to lower blood sugar).
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not use insulin properly. The insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are still intact, but the body has become less sensitive to the insulin produced.
Type 2 diabetes is controlled by managing blood sugar through diet, exercise, and oral medication. Sometimes insulin is necessary too.