Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the cells that make insulin. It’s often diagnosed in children or teens, but there is growing awareness that adults can develop type 1 diabetes too—this is sometimes called adult-onset T1D. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, and all people with type 1 diabetes make little to no insulin, requiring insulin therapy for life.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and can be linked to a variety of factors including genetics and family history, cultural background, and behavioral factors. It is not an autoimmune disease. The body still makes insulin, often in high amounts, but doesn’t use it properly. Symptoms develop gradually, and it can often be managed with changes in diet and exercise, medications, and sometimes insulin.