what is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes ?

Diabetes, termed diabetes mellitus, is a metabolism disorder. Metabolism refers to how the body uses and digests food for growth and energy. Most of the food we consume is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a type of sugar in the blood - it is the main source of food for our bodies (our cells). When food is digested it eventually enters our bloodstream in the form of glucose. Cells utilize the glucose for growth and energy. However, without the help of insulin, the glucose cannot enter our cells. Insulin, a hormone, is produced in the pancreas. After consuming food the pancreas automatically releases an appropriate quantity of insulin to transport the blood glucose into the cells, thus lowering blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes, the amount of blood glucose is too high - a condition called hyperglycemia. This happens for one of two main reasons:
The body is producing no insulin - this is Diabetes Type 1
The cells do not respond correctly to the insulin - this is Diabetes Type 2
Consequently, excessive amounts of glucose accumulate in the blood. This blood glucose overload is eventually passed out of the body in urine. Even though the blood has plenty of insulin, the cells of a person with diabetes are not getting their crucial energy and growth requirements.

In Type 1 Diabetes, the person's own body has destroyed the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. When your own body destroys good stuff in your body it has what is called an autoimmune disease. Diabetes Type 1 is known as an autoimmune disease.

Quite simply - a person with Diabetes Type 1 does not produce insulin. In the majority of cases this type of diabetes appears before the patient is 40 years old. That is why this type of diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes or Childhood Diabetes. Diabetes Type 1 onset can appear after the age of 40, but it is extremely rare. About 15 per cent of all diabetes patients have Type 1.

People with Type 1 have to take insulin regularly in order to stay alive.

Diabetes Type 1 is not preventable, it is in no way the result of a person's lifestyle. Whether a person is fat, thin, fit or unfit, makes no difference to his or her risk of developing Type 1. In the case of Diabetes Type 2, much of its onset is the result of bodyweight, fitness and lifestyle. The vast majority of people who develop Type 1 are not overweight, and are otherwise healthy during onset. You cannot reverse or prevent Type 1 by doing lots of exercise or eating carefully. Quite simply, the Diabetes Type 1 patient has lost his/her beta cells. The beta cells are in the pancreas; they produce insulin.

Person with Diabetes Type 2 has one of two problems, and sometimes both:
1. Not enough insulin is being produced.
2. The insulin is not working properly - this is known as insulin resistance.
The vast majority of patients who develop Type 2 did so because they were overweight and unfit, and had been overweight and unfit for some time. This type of diabetes tends to appear later on in life. However, there have been more and more cases of people in their 20s developing Type 2, but it is still relatively uncommon.

Approximately 85% of all diabetes patients have Type 2.

Not going in details and using medical terms much, I would like to say that it is insulin that metabolize glucose in our body. In type 1 diabetes which is also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is due to absence of insulin, it is hereditary, genetically linked and can occur in immature age and as the name itself indicates it requires external source of insulin for metabolism of glucose hence its treatment is only insulin.

Type 2 diabetes also called Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is due to insensive insulin or dormant insulin. As the insulin is present in body but not active oral hypoglycemic drugs like sulphonyl urea, pioglitazones and biguanides are effective as they sensitize insulin and make them active. They are not genetically linked and mostly present in older age, obese and can be controlled by diet control, oral drugs or insulin depending upon the severity of disease.

under normal circumstances, type 1 is genetic and if you live to 30, you're fortunate. there is absolutely no way you can naturally stop type 1 diabetes that i am aware of.

type 2 diabetes -- it's called OBESITY. it's easily stopped by reversing OBESITY. namely -- stop gorging if you're gorging (which you probably are). start eating like you SHOULD. and stop being lazy if you're lazy. start creatively taking care of your body.

Type 1 diabetes, what used to be called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is typically seen (to be diagnosed) in people who are under 30 years of age. This is where the pancreas has stopped producing enough insulin for the patient. Insulin injections are then the course of treatment.
Type 2 diabetes, what used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), is typically seen (to be diagnosed) in people who are over 40 years of age. This is where the body stops responding correctly to the pancreas producing insulin. Course of treatment for this include oral medication, diet, exercise, and sometimes insulin injections