Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Todd: Mike, we're talking about diabetes. Often I hear about diabetes Type 1 and diabetes Type 2. What's the difference?

Mike: That's right, Todd. There are two types of diabetes. There is. There's two types. There's Type 1 diabetes and there's Type 2. Type 1 is usually attributed to genetics and generally Type 1, it can happen at any age but it tends to happen when people are younger, and then for some reason, they still don't know why, but the pancreas, an organ in your body, it stops producing insulin, which is a hormone, and when that happens, you instantly become diabetic, and that's Type 1 diabetes. Now, Type 2 diabetes, generally speaking, is because of diet related issues. People who tend to have poor diets, or tend to be very overweight, and again I'm generalizing of course, so there's probably very healthy fit Type 2 diabetics that can still get it but generally, what I think happens with Type 2 diabetes, this is just a theory, that you put so much strain on your pancreas to produce insulin for all the sugar that you're eating that it just stops, it just runs out of insulin and slowly, slowly starts to slow down.

Todd: So basically if you have a really poor diet, and you eat a lot of sugar and you don't exercise then you increase your chances....

Mike: Definitely. Definitely. You're increasing your chances. I'm sure of that.

Todd: Right. So, I think these days, one of the biggest problems is probably soda. I know I drink too much soda, so being a diabetic, do you ever drink soda or sweet drinks?

Mike: Well, of course I do but like non-sugar sodas, like diet cokes and those kind of things, but of course I drink fruit juices, but generally I drink more water or try to drink drinks that don't have a lot of sugar added in them.

Todd: Right. Now, actually if you have diabetes 1 or diabetes 2 is the result the same?

Mike: Well, actually there's one major difference and I didn't mention. Type 1 diabetes have to use insulin injections. They have to inject insulin to control the blood sugars. Type 2 diabetes often can take pills, so they don't have to inject themselves, so it's a pretty major difference, I think psychologically, if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Todd: And are the complications the same?

Mike: Yeah, the complications can be the same. Yeah.

Todd: Can you explain what can happen?

Mike: Well, like what happened to me. Generally what happens, the blood sugar clogs your blood vessels inside your body and eventually it leads to things like amputations. It can lead to things like loss of vision. It can lead to all kinds of other health related problems where, you know, circulation is important, so thosße are probably the biggest... liver disease, or sorry, kidney disease is another big one as well so people often lose their kidneys or their eyes - eyesight - or limbs.

Todd: That's terrible.

Mike: Yeah, it is. It's pretty serious.

Todd: So the main thing to do to try to prevent it is to have a healthy lifestyle and eat a healthy diet.

Mike: Yeah. Absolutely. Of course for Type 1 I don't think there is much you can really do to prevent it. If you get it, you get it, but definitely for Type 2 that's a good think to do.