A friend told me he had type 1 diabetes that turned into type 2. Is this possible?
Answers (2)
No, these two types of diabetes are quite different:
Type 1 diabetes is an 'auto-immune' condition. Basically the body sets up an attack against the cells within it that make insulin. These cells are called beta cells and are isolated in the pancreas. The result is that the body DOES NOT produce any insulin (or very little). This type of diabetes does not currently have a cure, throughout the persons lifetime he will be dependant on insulin.
People with type 2 diabetes make insulin, but their cells don't use it as well as they should. Doctors call this insulin resistance.
At first, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get glucose into the cells. But eventually it can't keep up, and the sugar builds up in your blood instead.
Type 2 diabetes is often manageable with appropriate diet and lifestyle changes. It does not necessarily need medication.
But Type 2 diabetes can become insulin-dependant which would then probably be a similar treatment as with diabetes type 1.