Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: What's the Difference

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that develops when the hormone insulin does not work properly. Insulin is needed to deliver glucose (sugar) from the blood into cells to produce energy.

Although both types of diabetes lead to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), the causes and mechanisms underlying their development are fundamentally different.

Here are the main differences between type 1 and type 2 in simple terms.