Which type of diabetes is the worst? – Type 1 diabetes is considered worse than type 2 because it is an autoimmune disease, so there isn’t a cure. Also, in a 2010 report⁴ from the UK, it’s estimated that the life expectancy of people with type 2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 10 years, while type 1 can reduce life expectancy by 20 years or more.
Is type 1 diabetes the most serious?
Treating type 1 diabetes – It’s important that diabetes is diagnosed as early as possible. If left untreated, type-1 diabetes is a life-threatening condition. It’s essential that treatment is started early. Diabetes can’t be cured, but treatment aims to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible and control your symptoms, to prevent health problems developing later in life.
- If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll be referred to a diabetes care team for specialist treatment and monitoring.
- As your body can’t produce insulin, you’ll need regular insulin injections to keep your glucose levels normal.
- You’ll be taught how to do this and how to match the insulin you inject to the food (carbohydrate) you eat, taking into account your blood glucose level and how much exercise you do.
Insulin injections come in several different forms, with each working slightly differently. You’ll most likely need a combination of different insulin preparations. Insulin is given to some patients by a continuous infusion of fast (rapid) acting insulin (pump therapy).
islet cell transplantation – where healthy insulin-producing cells from the pancreas of a deceased donor are implanted into the pancreas of someone with type 1 diabetes a complete pancreas transplant – this is still relatively rare and only a few centres of excellence offer this.
Read more about diagnosing diabetes and treating type 1 diabetes
Can type 2 diabetes recover?
Here’s how healthier habits may help some people reverse or better manage the disease. – Diabetes is a very common but serious medical condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million Americans have it, with about 90-95% of them having type 2 diabetes. About 88 million people have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
- There is no cure for type 2 diabetes.
- But it may be possible to reverse the condition to a point where you do not need medication to manage it and your body does not suffer ill effects from having blood sugar levels that are too high.
- Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.
Other lifestyle changes may also help, including not smoking, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol and managing stress. However, for some people this is still not enough and medication is needed to manage the condition.
Should I worry if I have type 2 diabetes?
Is type 2 diabetes serious? – Around 90% of people with diabetes in the UK have type 2. It is serious condition and can be lifelong. Having type 2 diabetes without treatment means that high sugar levels in your blood can seriously damage parts of your body, including your eyes, heart and feet.
Should I worry type 2 diabetes?
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body’s cells can’t properly take up sugar (glucose) from the foods you eat. If left untreated, Type 2 diabetes can cause such health problems as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. You can manage this disease by making lifestyle changes, taking medications and/or insulin and seeing your provider for regular check-ins.
Overview Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests Management and Treatment Prevention Outlook / Prognosis Living With
Type 2 Diabetes
Overview Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests Management and Treatment Prevention Outlook / Prognosis Living With Back To Top
How long do type 1 diabetes usually live?
Challenges of Aging with Type 1 Diabetes – Dr. Prieto explained that people with diabetes have similar issues of aging compared to others, “but with the potential added burdens of heart disease as noted above, as well as an increased risk of kidney disease/kidney failure, life threatening hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), and loss of vision due to retinopathy.” These risks can be minimized with the best treatment and close monitoring.
Narayan KMV, Boyle JP, Thompson TJ, et al. Lifetime Risk for Diabetes Mellitus in the United States. JAMA,2003;290(14):1884–1890. doi:10.1001/jama.290.14.1884. Livingstone SJ, Levin D, Looker HC, et al. Estimated Life Expectancy in a Scottish Cohort With Type 1 Diabetes, 2008-2010. JAMA,2015;313(1):37–44. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16425. Heald, A.H., Stedman, M., Davies, M., Livingston, M., Alshames, R., Lunt, M., Rayman, G., & Gadsby, R. (2020). Estimating life years lost to diabetes: outcomes from analysis of National Diabetes Audit and Office of National Statistics data, Cardiovascular Endocrinology & Metabolism, 9(4), 183-185. https://doi.org/10.1097/XCE.0000000000000210, Tran-Duy A, Knight J, Clarke PM, et al. Development of a life expectancy table for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia,2021 Oct;64(10):2228-2236. doi: 10.1007/s00125-021-05503-6. Epub 2021 Jul 26. PMID: 34309688; PMCID: PMC8310903. Secrest AM, Washington RE, Orchard TJ. Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes. In: Cowie CC, Casagrande SS, Menke A, et al., editors. Diabetes in America,3rd edition. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (US); 2018 Aug. CHAPTER 35. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567986/ Lung TW, Hayes AJ, Herman WH, et al. A meta-analysis of the relative risk of mortality for type 1 diabetes patients compared to the general population: exploring temporal changes in relative mortality. PLoS One,2014 Nov 26;9(11):e113635. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113635. PMID: 25426948; PMCID: PMC4245211. Ioacara S, Lichiardopol R, Ionescu-Tirgoviste C, et al. Improvements in life expectancy in type 1 diabetes patients in the last six decades. Diabetes Res Clin Pract,2009 Nov;86(2):146-51. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2009.08.012. Epub 2009 Sep 23. PMID: 19783316. Writing Group for the DCCT/EDIC Research Group. Association Between 7 Years of Intensive Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes and Long-term Mortality. JAMA,2015;313(1):45–53. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16107. Diabetes Report Card: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/reports/reportcard.html
Notes: This article was originally published November 16, 2022 and most recently updated December 12, 2022, 
Margaret M. Burke, PharmD, BCPPS, is a pharmacist, medical writer, and educator with 30+ years of clinical experience.
Which diabetes can be immediately fatal?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is life-threatening—learn the warning signs to be prepared for any situation. DKA is no joke, it’s a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death.
Which type diabetes requires insulin?
Insulin for diabetes – Insulin is a hormone our body makes to keep our blood glucose levels within the normal range. It is made by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin’s main job is to move glucose from our bloodstream into the body’s cells to make energy.
- If you don’t have enough insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream rather than getting into your cells to provide energy.
- With type 1 diabetes, the body does not make any insulin and therefore insulin has to be injected regularly every day to stay alive.
- With type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that is made does not work well.
Insulin injections are sometimes needed to manage blood glucose levels.
Can type 1 diabetes start suddenly?
Can symptoms appear suddenly? – In people with type 1 diabetes, the onset of symptoms can be very sudden, while in type 2 diabetes, they tend to come about more gradually, and sometimes there are no signs at all. Symptoms sometimes occur after a viral illness.
- In some cases, a person may reach the point of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) before a type 1 diagnosis is made.
- DKA occurs when blood glucose (blood sugar) is dangerously high and the body can’t get nutrients into the cells because of the absence of insulin.
- The body then breaks down muscle and fat for energy, causing an accumulation of ketones in the blood and urine.
Symptoms of DKA include a fruity odor on the breath, heavy, taxed breathing and vomiting. If left untreated, DKA can result in stupor, unconsciousness, and even death. People who have symptoms—of type 1 or of DKA—should contact their health care provider immediately for an accurate diagnosis.
Keep in mind that these symptoms could signal other problems, too. Some people with type 1 have a “honeymoon” period, a brief remission of symptoms while the pancreas is still secreting some insulin. The honeymoon phase usually occurs after someone has started taking insulin. A honeymoon can last as little as a week or even up to a year.
But it’s important to know that the absence of symptoms doesn’t mean the diabetes is gone. The pancreas will eventually be unable to secrete insulin, and, if untreated, the symptoms will return.
How Long Can You Live With diabetes Type 2?
Life expectancy can be increased by 3 years or in some cases as much as 10 years. At age 50, life expectancy- the number of years a person is expected to live- is 6 years shorter for people with type 2 diabetes than for people without it. People with type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk of complications and live longer by achieving their treatment goals.
Can type 2 diabetes turn into type 1?
Type 2 diabetes can’t turn into type 1 diabetes. They’re separate conditions with distinct causes. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop in early childhood while type 2 diabetes can take years to develop. However, some people may be misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they have another condition. Keep reading to learn more about type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and other diagnoses.