Diabetes Type 1 vs Type 2
What's the Difference and Does Insurance Cover both?
Diabetes is one of the world's main chronic health conditions. Your body converts most of the food you consume into sugar (glucose), which is then released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar levels rise, it signals your pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin transports blood glucose to your cells, converting it to energy.
People with diabetes have higher glucose levels in their bloodstream. This is because their body struggles to generate or use insulin adequately.
There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2 - they both entail the body's inability to utilise or produce glucose efficiently.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is genetic and often appears in adolescence or early adulthood. It results from an autoimmune reaction. An autoimmune disease develops when the body's natural defence mechanism cannot distinguish between your cells and foreign cells. Thus, in diabetes type 1, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas is destroyed by your immune system.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term, lifestyle-related condition. An unhealthy diet and inactivity often bring it on. With diabetes type 2, your body still generates insulin. However, the insulin generated is ineffective. Thus blood sugar levels in the bloodstream are elevated.
Certain people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, a condition in which the pancreas generates insulin, but the body cannot use it efficiently. As a result, glucose accumulates in your bloodstream and harms many different systems in your body over time.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes symptoms
The following are symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
Type 1 symptoms can often appear quickly, and four common ones are the 4T of type 1 diabetes.
In contrast, symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be easily missed as it develops slowly, particularly in the early stages. As a result, many people won't have symptoms for many years and, thus, are unaware of their condition.
Hence, it is vital to understand your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes causes
An autoimmune reaction brings on type 1 diabetes. In comparison, type 2 diabetes develops over many years and is related to lifestyle factors, including inactivity and obesity.
Risk factors for type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes risk factors are lesser known than type 2. However, these factors include:
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Family history/genetics: People with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop it themselves.
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Age: Although type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, it is most frequent in children and adolescents.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
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have prediabetes
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suffer from obesity
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have hypertension
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are not physically active
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are over age 45
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have a history of gestational diabetes
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have family members with type 2 diabetes
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes diagnosis
Blood tests are used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These include:
- Random blood sugar test
This measures the amount of glucose circulating in a person’s blood at any particular time. So, it can be taken at any time. Diabetes is diagnosed when a person's random blood sugar is ≥11.1 mmol/L (≥200 mg/dL). - Fasting blood sugar test
This measures how much glucose is circulating in the blood after at least 8 to 12 hours without food or liquids. A level of 5.6-6.9 mmol/L (100-125 mg/dL) is an indication of prediabetes, and ≥7 mmol/L (≥126 mg/dL) or higher indicates diabetes. - Glucose tolerance test
This checks your blood sugar levels before and after consuming a glucose-containing liquid.
Before the test, you will fast for 8-10 hours to determine your fasting blood sugar level. Then, after drinking the beverage, your blood sugar level will be will be tested after 2 hours for glucose determination.
At 2 hours, blood sugar levels of <7.8mmol/L (140mg/dL) or less is regarded as normal, 7.8-11 mmol/L (140-199 mg/dL) as prediabetes, and ≥11.1 mmol/L (≥200 mg/dL) or above as diabetes. - Hemoglobin A1C test
The A1C test displays average blood sugar levels for the previous 2 to 3 months. It determines the proportion of blood's hemoglobin proteins coated in sugar (glycated). An A1C under 5.7% is normal, between 5.7 and 6.3% denotes prediabetes, and 6.4% or more indicates diabetes.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes treatment
It is vital to ensure that diabetes is treated and managed. Unmanaged diabetes can result in extreme health issues, including limb amputation and blindness.
Type 1
Below are a few ways to treat type 1 diabetes.
- Insulin Treatment
Since the body cannot create insulin independently, it must be taken continuously for life. This can be given via an insulin pump, a pen-style delivery device, or a syringe. There are presently no authorized oral insulin solutions for treating type 1 diabetes. However, these medications are being tested in clinical settings and might one day be made accessible. - Lifestyle Changes
Monitor your blood sugar: It is crucial to become familiar with healthy blood sugar levels and to check yours regularly. A disposable test strip and a blood sugar meter called a glucometer to monitor glucose levels.
Maintain a balanced diet: Eat foods with low Glycemic index (GI). It is recommended to have meal plans that meet individualised caloric goals with a macronutrient distribution that is consistent with healthful eating pattern.
Exercise: Being physically active is essential for overall health. However, for those with type 1 diabetes, it can help manage blood sugar levels and improve how the body uses insulin.
Type 2
The main methods for treating type 2 diabetes are:
- Insulin Treatment
Oral pharmaceuticals, such as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) agonists, improve the body's capacity to make and utilize insulin. These medications include tirzepatide, dulaglutide and semaglutide. Additionally, various kinds of medications and older medication such as metformin may be administered. - Lifestyle Changes
A balanced diet: Eating foods with low Glycemic index (GI) while limiting your intake of foods heavy in fat and sugar.
Exercise: Exercising and staying active is also very important as it helps to reduce blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity throughout the body.
Weight loss if you’re overweight: Losing weight is more about taking care of your body and lessening the stress on your pancreas than the number on the scale. As such, ensure that you’re in a healthy weight range.
Blood sugar monitoring: Your daily routine will include checking of blood sugar levels. It is important to keep track of your daily levels and modify your diet and activities as necessary. You'll eventually identify the routine and balance that work best for you.
Cost of diabetes treatment
According to a 2017 study, patient follow-up for Type 2 diabetes is estimated to cost RM459 per patient annually. However, this amount increases with complication costs. For example, costs for stroke treatment can be above RM5,000, while cataract extraction can reach RM4,800.
It’s important to keep in mind that this study was conducted in 2017, and the cost would have likely risen due to yearly medical inflation.
Insurance for type 2 diabetes
Prudential offers PRUMy Diabetes Care, an insurance solution plan that offers coverage for diabetes-related issues. Its benefits include:
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Continuous medical coverage with no annual or lifetime limits with deductibles as low as RM20,000.
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Financial security for you and your loved ones if you’re diagnosed with diabetes or a diabetes-related issue.
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A lump sum amount in the event that you’re critically ill.
In addition to these benefits, you can also add extra plans to PRUMy Diabetes Care to strengthen your coverage. For instance,
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PRUValue Med to cover hospital bills.
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Payor Basic for annual benefits if you’re unable to pay for premiums due to Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) or if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness.
Insurance for type 1 diabetes
As with all insurance policies, there are certain criteria that need to be fulfilled to be eligible. As such, insurance application approvals are case by case. If you have Type 1 diabetes and unsure whether there’s insurance coverage, you’re still welcome to apply via PRUWith You; or better yet, planners today.
Diabetes type 1 vs type 2 prevalence
The prevalence of diabetes in men and women is almost the same.
However, compared to type 2, type 1 diabetes is generally less common. Type 1 diabetes affects between 5 to 10% of those with diabetes, while 90 to 95% of those with diabetes have type 2.
Diabetes type 1 vs type 2 diabetes diet
Type 1
For the management of type 1 diabetes, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial. A type 1 diabetic diet aims to maximize nutrition while keeping an eye on carbs, protein, and fat consumption.
If you have type 1 diabetes, discuss with your doctor how much insulin you might need to inject after consuming particular foods.
For instance, some carbohydrates can quickly raise blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes. Taking insulin will be necessary to combat this, but you'll need to know how much to take.
Type 2
You should concentrate on eating well by following a balanced diet. Treatment programmes for type 2 diabetes frequently include weight loss. A physician or dietitian may advise a low-calorie diet. This can entail cutting back on junk food and animal fats.
Additionally, reduce the consumption of processed foods, trans fat, sugary drinks, and alcohol. You might need to experiment with different diets and nutritional plans to find a diet that works for your health, lifestyle, and budget.
Can diabetes be cured?
Diabetes has no cure, but it can be treated and managed. This is why insurance for diabetes is vital. Diabetes insurance help diabetics stay healthy by providing them with medications, education, and health care.
Conclusion
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes symptoms, you should see a doctor and get your blood tested, especially if you have a family history of diabetes.
Prudential is a reputable insurance company that offers wide coverage and meets your needs. Not only that, it is a comprehensive solution that may address your protection needs. It pays for your medical expenses and your premiums if you are unable to pay them and pays you a lump sum payment if you are critically ill.