We've passed the mid-way point in National Diabetes Month, which calls for awareness and education of diabetes to the general public and fostering a sense of community for all who have diabetes.  Diabetes is affecting more and more people and their families and friends every year - to the tune of 23.6 million in the U.S. alone, hence this push for outreach and education are both necessary and noble. 

I hope that this sense of unified community begins from within the Diabetes Community itself, where I've found a fracture between those with Type 1 and those with Type 2. There have been times when I've been privy to comparisons, comments and banter (sometimes none to friendly) that have been tossed between the two D camps. The division between the two conditions can be likened to some of the other schisms that have occurred in cultures or religions, creating two distinct factions, like the Protestants v. the Catholics, or the Orange Irish v. the Green Irish, or Working Moms v. Stay at Home Moms.

Spend a little time in the lives of either - or both - D types, and one can see why the division may occur. Type 1s become frustrated by the assumption that their condition is something they can control, and it was their lifestyle that has resulted in their diabetes. Just look at the most recent Presidential Proclamation for National Diabetes Month which states that: "Preventive care is the best way to avoid diabetes ...." Frustration understood.  Too, I suspect that underlying the surface is resentment that Type 1 Diabetes never has the possibility of going away like it can with Type 2. Once Type 1 is diagnosed, it's yours always.

Type 2s, understandably, loath the labels that have been put upon them: the condition is avoidable, or their fault, or if they simply managed their lives better they wouldn't have diabetes- again, let's consider that proclamation by President Obama, and the finger points back at the one managing the diabetes. There is the more insidious insinuation that Type 2s are a cause of our spiraling healthcare costs.

So What Really Is The Difference?
Unfortunately, not all members of the overall "D" community know or understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetes, no matter what the type, is such a demanding condition, it is understandable why we don't make time to research further the differences between the two types. Below summarizes, in brief, the two conditions, with links for more research if desired.

• Type 1 Diabetes, also know as juvenile diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus. It most commonly affects children and young adults and is an auto immune disease, which means the body attacks and destroys insulin cells produced by the pancreas. Type 1s are insulin dependent, and must test their blood and inject insulin several times daily. Only about 12% of those managing Diabetes are Type 1. As an auto immune disease, Type 1 Diabetes is not preventable.

• Type 2 Diabetes: is the most common form of diabetes, with million in the U.S. being affected. With Type 2, the body either ignores the insulin the body produces or the body does not produce enough insulin to convert food eaten into energy. Large levels of glucose subsequently builds up in the blood, which can lead to diabetes-related complications. Being overweight or inactive can lead to Type 2.

It's difficult to get exact numbers on the number of diabetics in America, owing to unreported but suspected cases and since they is no central registry for this data, but the best I could piece together is as follows: