Dr. Gott: Differentiating types of diabetes

Pasadenastarnews:Dr. Gott: I have been a Type 2 diabetic for four years now. What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Dear Reader: Diabetes is a disorder in which blood-glucose levels are above normal. People develop diabetes either because the pancreas doesn't produce adequate insulin or because the cells in the muscles, liver and fat don't use insulin properly. This results is glucose remaining in the blood and elevating levels at the same time cells crave the energy necessary to function properly.

There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, with the latter being most common. Type 1 indicates a person is dependent on insulin and requires regular injections that are self-administered because the body fails to produce enough, if any, insulin. This form generally develops before the age of 30 and affects about 10 percent of all diabetics...continue

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