What differentiates type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes regarding insulin?

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This leads to little or no insulin being available to regulate blood glucose levels. Individuals with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy for survival, as their bodies cannot produce adequate amounts.

In contrast, type 2 diabetes typically involves the body’s cells becoming resistant to insulin (increased insulin resistance) and/or the pancreas not producing enough insulin over time. Therefore, while individuals with type 2 diabetes may still produce insulin, they either do not produce enough or their bodies do not respond effectively to it.

These points clarify that type 1 diabetes primarily involves a complete absence of insulin production, which differentiates it from type 2 diabetes, where insulin production is usually still present, but its effectiveness is diminished.