Skip to content
Get monthly diabetes updates

What are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Finally! An easy explanation.

Published by Sweet Life on

What are the different types of diabetes? It’s one of the questions we get asked a lot on South Africans with Diabetes. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Here’s some basic information about the differences between them.

what is type 1 diabetes?

 

Type 1 diabetes

  • Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas stops producing insulin.
  • The diabetes diagnosis is often very sudden and dramatic, usually in hospital.
  • If you look after yourself, you can live a healthy, happy life with diabetes. Here are some basic tips.
  • All people with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin injections with every meal (and before going to bed). Some use a pump instead of injections.

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children or youth under 30. That said, more and more older people are being diagnosed as Type 1s.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition. It is not caused by eating the wrong food, or eating too much sugar, or being overweight.

Although Type 1 diabetes is not hereditary (it doesn’t run in the family), it is genetic. Remember that diabetes is a self-managed condition. Good diabetes management often comes down to the right attitude and approach to living with a chronic condition. Here are some mental health tips that can help!

what is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes

  • Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes: it affects 90% of people with diabetes.
  • It is hereditary (it runs in families).
  • Type 2 diabetes is often called a lifestyle disease, because it can be caused by carrying extra weight, eating the wrong kind of food and not exercising. But there is a strong hereditary link.
  • It’s possible to live a long, healthy life with Type 2 diabetes – here are some basic tips.
  • It can be reversed by losing weight if necessary, eating healthy food and exercising. Here’s how to reverse Type 2 diabetes.

Do you have to change your lifestyle to manage Type 2 diabetes?
Yes. But if you do, you can live a long and healthy life.

Type 2 diabetes, also known as diabetes 2 or sugar diabetes (in South Africa) is most common in adults. That said, more children are being diagnosed (usually if they are overweight and not active). People who are overweight or who have diabetes in their family are more at risk and may need to lose weight. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage Type 2 diabetes, including weight loss tips, portion control and how to choose the right kinds of food.

The medication for Type 2 diabetes is usually tablets, followed by insulin injections at a later date if necessary. Sometimes, Type 2 diabetes medication can cause diarrhea (upset stomach), but if you take it after dinner this is less of a problem.

gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes

  • Gestational diabetes is a condition of high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
  • Women with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
  • Like Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes can often be controlled with diet and exercise, although  it will sometimes need medication.
  • If gestational diabetes is undiagnosed, it can harm the baby. It’s important to get checked for gestational diabetes during pregnancy (usually at the beginning of the third trimester).

Other types of diabetes

There is also a fourth type of diabetes, known as LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes) or Type 1.5 diabetes. It is a version of Type 1 diabetes diagnosed in adults, who would more often be candidates for Type 2. It has all the same characteristics as Type 1 diabetes, except that it is diagnosed much later.

What type of diabetes do you have? Were you told clearly when you were diagnosed?

What to read next?

Type 2 diabetes risk factors: Spend 1 minute watching this video and you’ll know if you’re at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Eat healthy for diabetes: The one diabetes and diet article you need to read.

How to reverse Type 2 diabetes: A step-by-step guide to how to reverse Type 2.

Photo by Mark Claus on Unsplash

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
What to read next
Join South Africans with Diabetes on Facebook
Join Now

Join our diabetes community

Join our diabetes community

50 Comments

  6. Ingabe Yini Isifo sikaShukela? | Diabetic South Africans

    […] Siyakwamukela. Njengoba usafuna ulwazi nokuthola mayelana nezinhlobo ezahlukene ngaso lesifo the different types of diabetes, nokuthi usichaze kanjani kubantu. Kungasiza ukuthi ube nolwazi oluphelele mayelana nalesifo. […]

  7. Wat is diabetes? Afrikaans | Diabetic South Africans

    […] pad vir jouself gekies het nie. ’n Beter begrip van hoe dit werk, sal jou help om te verstaan wat die verskillende tipes diabetes behels – en hoe om dit aan mense te verduidelik. Hier gaan ons … Enige vrae? Stuur ’n e-pos […]

  9. What is MODY diabetes? | Diabetic South Africans

    […] if there is anyone with MODY here? Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in January, Type 1.5 diabetes in June, and MODY yesterday. But my case was described as a curious case indeed by the specialist, […]

  15. Misdiagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic: Moji Musa's story

    […] By the time I started seeing the endocrinologist, I had a hard time understanding the treatment regimen he chose for me, which was pre-mixed insulin. I think my confusion and suspicion of my diagnosis came from the fact that I had been doing a lot of reading on the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. […]

  22. Diabetes myths: these are absolutely not true.

    […] eating large amounts of added sugar in your everyday foods may increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, sugar intake alone is just one piece of the puzzle. And when it comes to Type 1 diabetes, it’s […]

  28. Diabetes distress and burnout: what to do about it?

    […] conversation , we asked clinical psychologist Daniel Sher to join us. Daniel has been living with Type 1 diabetes since he was a baby, so he has a deep understanding of what it’s like to juggle the many demands […]

  36. Twins with Diabetes: Patrick and Keegan's Story

    […] was. I was always lethargic, thirsty, urinating and sleeping all the time. My grandmother who had Type 2 diabetes asked to check my blood sugar. And so we did and I was shocked that my reading was 25mmol/l. The […]

  38. The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

    […] Community has been that we’re all in this together. It doesn’t matter if you have Type 1 or Type 2 or gestational or LADA or MODY or if you’re the carer of someone with diabetes or you work […]

  40. People with diabetes can do anything! Neve Quail's story.

    […] All I can remember is that I told my mom I kept finishing all my orange juice (I drank quite a bit)  and it was very unusual, I also went to the loo a lot. When we got home my brother – who has Type 1 diabetes – tested me and I was high. That’s how I found out I was diabetic. […]

  44. How a double diabetes diagnosis led to advocacy

    […] and tested. His sugar was 30mmol/L and we rushed him to the doctor – they confirmed Type 1 diabetes just like his dad. At first I was worried as I did not know how to handle this with a child… […]

  45. Can people with diabetes donate blood?

    […] welcome people living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to donate blood, provided their blood glucose levels are well controlled and they do not […]

  46. Top tips for pets with diabetes - South Africans with Diabetes

    […] Diabetes affects approximately 1 in every 200 domestic cats.  The average age at onset is between 8 and 13 years.  Diabetes is less common in dogs affecting only 1 in roughly 450 dogs.  The average age of onset in dogs is 8 years.  When it comes to sex,  predominantly more male cats are affected with diabetes where as in dogs, females are predominant.  […]

  47. Your Diabetes Team - South Africans with Diabetes

    […] In the private sector, your GP is usually your main contact for diabetes management. It’s vital to schedule regular check-ups with your primary care doctor so they can effectively monitor your overall health and existing conditions, like diabetes. […]

What do you think?

Sweet Life is a registered NPO/PBO (220-984) with a single goal: to improve diabetes in South Africa. We are funded by sponsorships and donations from aligned companies and organisations who believe in our work. We only share information that we believe benefits our community. While some of this information is linked to specific brands, it is not an official endorsement of that brand. We believe in empowering people with diabetes to make the best decisions they can, to live a healthy, happy life with diabetes.