A main purpose of this site is NOT to address issues related uniquely to type 2 diabetes. Approximately 1.25 million Americans have type 1 diabetes. Depending upon the estimates of those yet to be diagnosed, approximately 30 million Americans have type 2. If indeed 24 TIMES as many people have type 2 than type 1, it’s easy to see why the literature tends to be written for those with type 2.

You should inform yourself first-hand from sources you trust, but generally speaking, type 2 diabetes relates to insulin resistance. By contrast, type 1 diabetes is an inability for the pancreas to produce insulin. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder, wherein the body has come to recognize pancreatic beta cells, specifically, as foreign. These cells have been “killed off” by the immune system, leaving the body incapable of producing enough* insulin.

*from a therapeutic standpoint, essentially no insulin may be produced. Recent studies suggest some insulin production capability may remain for some time. Although this sounds good, it can make dosing with man-made insulin more difficult. In your first months on insulin therapy, watch out for this so-called honeymoon period. Unlike the name, it’s not a good thing! After a period of months beta cells are, sadly, essentially all gone. The good news is that your carb-to-insulin ratios get much more predictable and a surprise low becomes less likely.