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.
Heart disease and stroke
If you have diabetes, you're up to five times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. Prolonged, poorly controlled blood glucose levels increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis, where the blood vessels become clogged up and narrowed by fatty substances.
Diabetes occurs in four stages: Insulin resistance, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes with vascular complications.
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.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly, in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them.
The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. In type 1 diabetes (which used to be called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), the body completely stops making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections (or use an insulin pump) to survive.
A fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or lower is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.
Physical or emotional stress triggers the release of hormones that can cause high blood sugar levels. Menstrual periods and menopause also cause changes in the hormones that affect blood sugar levels. Regular blood sugar testing can uncover patterns. This can help you and your health care team control your diabetes.
Losing sleep—even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less well. Skipping breakfast—going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner. Time of day—blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets.
When your body doesn't use insulin properly, it's called insulin resistance. Your beta cells increase the amount of insulin they produce to make up for the insulin resistance. Over time, the body works even harder to make more insulin and eventually it can't keep up.
What is end-stage diabetes? While “end-stage diabetes” isn't a commonly used term, diabetes can lead to what's known as end-stage diabetic complications, or advanced complications. In people with diabetes, advanced complications, like end-stage renal disease, occur after many years of living with diabetes.
But yes, it may be possible to put your type 2 diabetes into remission. This is when your blood sugar levels are below the diabetes range and you don't need to take diabetes medication anymore. This could be life-changing.
Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, nerve and kidney damage, vision loss and more. Even if you have mild blood sugar elevations, you can damage your organs. Diabetes is a common condition.
Recent guidelines recommend considering use of metformin in patients with prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL, 2-hr post-load glucose 140-199 mg/dL, or A1C 5.7-6.4%), especially in those who are <60 years old, have a BMI >35 kg/m2, or have a history of gestational diabetes.
People With Diabetes Always Need Insulin
This is a semi-myth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with type 1 diabetes (about 5% to 10% of those with diabetes) do need insulin. If you have type 2, which includes 90% to 95% of all people with diabetes, you may not need insulin.
Only people with type 2 diabetes can use pills to manage their diabetes, people with type 1 diabetes must use insulin. These pills work best when used with meal planning and exercise. This way you have three therapies working together to lower your blood glucose levels. Diabetes pills don't work for everyone.
As you get older, your risk of complications from type 2 diabetes increases. For example, older adults with diabetes have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Older adults are also more likely to develop other complications of type 2 diabetes, such as nerve damage, vision loss, and kidney damage.
Diabetes Is Not Your Fault
Type 2 diabetes is a genetic disease. And when you have these genes, certain factors – like being overweight – can trigger it.
Indeed, myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death among individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Living till 100 years of age with diabetes is not just possible, it's simple, says diabetologist Dr V Mohan. “All it takes is a little self-control.”
Abstract. Diabetes mellitus has long been linked to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.