Type 1 vs Type 2

[jamesfitz]

Many people at work who have discussed diabetes following my t1 diagnosis in july seem to think t1 is the worse due to having to take daily injections. Having had diabetes for 3 months im of the opinion that t2 is much worse as i can currently eat what i want as long as i carb count and inject the relevant dose of insulin beforehand. Anyone else agree?

 

[Ebony2102]

Type 1 have worse long term problems. I'm type 1 and I'm so uncontrolled I wouldn't agree with you, but your lucky if your control is that good you can think type 2 is worse. Neither is easy to live with, and they are both different. But type one has more life threatening damage if bad control

 

[noblehead]

Both types will have their challenges @jamesfitz.

 

[becky.ford93]

I do think I'd find the necessary dietary aspects of type two hard, but having the opportunity to potentially reverse it is something that as type one I'll never have and I find that hard to deal with

 

[julie56]

I was diagnosed T2 at the age of 57 although my doctor thinks I am almost definitely slow evolving Type 1 and has put this on my notes. Whatever the final diagnosis I think I am lucky that I can at the moment control it with meds and low carbing and in fact feel generally healthier than a couple of years ago. I personally have a great deal of sympathy and admiration for the young people diagnosed Type 1 who have to deal with the daily routine and traumas that it can bring, when I am sure all they want to do is just be like all their "normal" peers. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I think Type 1 can be much harder to deal with.

 

[novorapidboi26]

it just depends on how you look at it..............after many years type 1, living with it doesn't seem to have a big impact on me, the same would go for a type 2 with many years under their belt...........you get used to it all...........

i suppose you could argue that complications could come along a lot quicker for type ones, due to the more sever highs and lows that can occur, but then complications for type 2 could creep up on you unnoticed which is a downside.....

ultimately i would love to have some pancreatic function left................

 

[BeccyB]

I've often thought about this issue - usually when I'm treating myself to a big meal and dessert!

I think most people without Type1 would say the injecting must be the worst thing but I totally disagree - you really do get used to it and it doesn't bother me at all. The worst thing I think is all the calculating of how much and when to inject - it's just exhausting having to think about the effect of absolutely everything you do. I'd love to have a spare brain that I could devote to the diabetes while the other gets on with 'normal' things.

 

[azure]

I think lots of people without diabetes assume injections are the worst part of it, but I don't agree at all - and that's speaking as someone who had a needle phobia. If I could have, say, four injections a day and not have to think about diabetes at all that'd be fine, but, as Becky says above, it's the constant monitoring of how things are going (both by meter and by feeling), calculations, planning for simple things like walking the dog, correcting highs, treating lows, etc etc It gets wearing.

I wouldn't presume to comment on Type 2 in general as I don't have it, but I do sometimes wish I could just control my diabetes by diet (as many Type 2s on meds probably wish too).

Best case scenario would be having no diabetes at all!

 

[alexhill05]

I always answer that question with 'it depends what you define as worse'... Type 1 (generally) isn't your fault, making it better than having type 2. Daily injections for the rest of your life and not at all treatable (yet)? I'd rather be type 2.

 

[misswhiplash]

There's no "worse" - it's not a competition... Both have challenges and both can generate complications. With continuing advances in research, though, both can also be managed much better than they might previously have been.
I'm very firmly of the opinion, also, that there are more similarities than differences, and that we should all "stick together" and be advocating for each other generally.
I'm not at all a fan of the, often media induced, T2 bashing that you seem to hear from so many people with T1.

 

[al_leister]

I do think I'd find the necessary dietary aspects of type two hard, but having the opportunity to potentially reverse it is something that as type one I'll never have and I find that hard to deal with

Hi Becky
Having the opportunity to potentially reverse Type 2 Diabetes may be a comfort to some though the work required is enormous. I think this opportunity is only possible for obese patients and Type 2 Diabetics with a BMI of 22.2 may never have the option of a reverse gear. J

 

[Daibell]

Hi. I was on tablets for years as a 'T2' and found the struggle to keep the blood sugar down even with low-carbing a real problem. When I went onto insulin MDI as a late onset T1 I found it a great relief and wouldn't go back. Yes, it's a nuisance but my control is quite good and I can now actually eat food!

 

[Robinredbreast]

When you see a heading with 'type vs another type' it can cause alarm bells to ring .
Both types are different. As a type 1 :-
Adults and children being misdiagnosed and then dying. Or admitted to hospital in a critical/serious condition or near death and fighting to stay alive. The constant finger pricking, decades and decades of it and injections too, which others have said is not a 'horrible experience' (it's something that you do get used to and doesn't really hurt), but injection sites can get lumpy, causing problems. Hypo's, hypers, weighing food, you can't just 'eat something' (most foods for me), without injecting. Working out the carbs for foods, eating out and trying to guesstimate without any massive highs or lows. Any stress, worries, shock,illnesses, operations, accidents and even hot weather can make the BS soar. Many other auto immune conditions that are associated with diabetes, especially with type 1, depression too, diabetes burnout ( especially with the younger generation)
I would rather not have diabetes, but I try and manage as best as I can, but have been going through a bit of horrible time recently and It's been more of a roller coaster ride and I want to get back on the merry go round. It's constantly there 24/7, but have always tried to be upbeat and positive, but lately, I have had bad feelings towards diabetes

 

[Auckland Canary]

When you see a heading with 'type vs another type' it can cause alarm bells to ring .
Both types are different. As a type 1 :-
Adults and children being misdiagnosed and then dying. Or admitted to hospital in a critical/serious condition or near death and fighting to stay alive. The constant finger pricking, decades and decades of it and injections too, which others have said is not a 'horrible experience' (it's something that you do get used to and doesn't really hurt), but injection sites can get lumpy, causing problems. Hypo's, hypers, weighing food, you can't just 'eat something' (most foods for me), without injecting. Working out the carbs for foods, eating out and trying to guesstimate without any massive highs or lows. Any stress, worries, shock,illnesses, operations, accidents and even hot weather can make the BS soar. Many other auto immune conditions that are associated with diabetes, especially with type 1, depression too, diabetes burnout ( especially with the younger generation)
I would rather not have diabetes, but I try and manage as best as I can, but have been going through a bit of horrible time recently and It's been more of a roller coaster ride and I want to get back on the merry go round. It's constantly there 24/7, but have always tried to be upbeat and positive, but lately, I have had bad feelings towards diabetes

So many good points there RRB. You always seem to be a voice of reason in a somewhat chaotic environment on here. I'm not going to comment what it's like being T2 as I'm not and never will be. I have enough of my own issues just getting through the day (and night) that most non diabetics have absolutely zero idea about. It is a tough tough condition to live with and we all need to support each other because ultimately who else have we got? I find more useful stuff here than I ever would by visiting doctors and nurses.

When I was first diagnosed I was on my own with this condition and that's scary place for a 9 year old. I've been alone with it ever since until I found this forum a few years ago. 32 years of being on my own and sometimes being desperate, lonely and worried. It is so much help. And do you know what? Sometimes the good stuff comes to me from the T2's as well. They're both bad in their own numerous ways and we have to help ourselves and each other because no other ****** is going to.

 

[Minnie45]

I have friends who are T2, all different degrees and on different treatment, one in particular drives me nuts as they pushed and pushed to go onto insulin (making up false results, it would be funny if it wasn't so serious), they honestly felt by going onto insulin it would give them a better quality of life. Another friend with T2 has managed to reverse it, another through no fault of her own is on insulin (she's very petite and doesn't fit the media hype). I've been a T1 since a child and although have had ups and downs, some serious, however I didn't really consider myself any different to anyone else but in more recent years my immune system has not behaved itself at all and I now have some serious complications, regrettably I have now started to realise I am different, I am a Type 1 diabetic and there's nothing I can do about it or my shot to pieces immune system, despite my best endeavours to keep my bloods as near perfect as I can.

 

[Mrs Vimes]

I think any type of diabetes is as 'bad' as the others because if uncontrolled we can all end up seriously ill.
I hate the media portrayal of type 2s. It's disgusting and lazy reporting. I'm with miss whiplash on this. Deffo sticking together and advocating for each other is good.
It's amazing how many ignorant type 1s there are who want to be named differently because all type 2s are fat and greedy. My type 2 dad had a 32 inch waist when he began showing symptoms.
And people who have complications - more often that not from bad advice. Not being told to test Or life stresses and things out of our control.

 

[Natalie1974]

I think which ever type you have...it's still a chore...none of us can escape the constant testing and paranoia over what our blood sugars are doing...none of us can just go eat a sticky bun without fear of what effect it'll have. My stepdad is type 2 and sometimes I think that must be worse...at least if I fancy something carby on the odd occasion (not that I do anymore) I can inject for it...where my stepdad will need to go for a good long walk...tricky for him given the fact he's had two hip replacements...being a lazy person at heart...a painless injection seems like a lot less hassle. Saying that...I'm struggling big time with my blood sugars at the moment...and the stress of it all is wearing me out...like everyone else...I just want it all to go away and to just be normal...maybe one day that long talked about cure will finally come...but what will we moan about then??? Lol

 

[JBlaza]

I was diagnosed in May and people's perceptions seem to be that type 1 is the 'bad kind', but I agree with the previous comments that neither is a walk in the park! There is also the common idea that type 2 is caused purely by poor diet and exercise, and while that is going to have contributed for some people it is unlikely to be the only cause and of course some people are active and eat healthily and still get it! The blame game is rarely helpful.

 

[mrspuddleduck]

The grass is always greener..............., but the mud it grows on is all full of the same ****!!!!! Sue xxxx

 

[Robbity]

T2 is neither worse nor better than T1 - it's a simply a different type of diabetes, but on the whole I feel that type I diabetes probably has many more serious issues.

I'm type 2 and I can control my diabetes with medication and diet, and if I ever forget to take the odd pill, it doesn't have any drastic consequences. The diet part is not difficult, as I can eat what I like as long as I avoid the foods that cause my glucose levels to rise - and since I eat and enjoy a varied and healthy diet, I don't have any problems with this. As far as I'm concerned this is a much easier option that having to worry over injecting the correct insulin doses all my life.

Robbity