Genes and Heart Disease

Interesting idea. The problem is that the two diseases overlap somewhat. For example, some type 2s have beta cell antibodies, and some type 1s have insulin resistance.

And much of the advice is the same for both types: count carbs, eat healthy foods, and exercise

In both cases, high BGs cause complications.

The big difference is that most type 2s need to lose weight and most type 1s don't. And type 1s have more difficulty with yo-yoing BG levels even when they're very careful with insulin doses and carb counting. There's no "buffer" of endogenous insulin production.

And a type 2 could take a few days "off" and only suffer the consequences of very high BG levels. A type 1 might end up in a coma.

However, type 2s are often at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and they often suffer from prejudice of uninformed people who think "they brought it on themselves."

So yes, both types have unique problems. But I think the basics are the same: high BG levels that will harm you if you ignore them.

Nitpicker picks a good nit. As a Type I diabetic, I am constantly obliged to make the I/II distinction to friends, relatives, fellow employees, and others. It is invariably depressing to me to recount the whole story, and the average victim promptly forgets it anyway while possibly recalling me for having a pedantic streak. With a different name, they'd remember, and this would never happen. Also, I do not like the "Type I" label. It's dehumanizing. "Juvenile diabetic" is preferable, but too wordy. Let us hope that it all becomes a moot point anyway when this disease is cured, though after 24 years of promises, it is a little hard to get enthused about the latest "breakthrough." They fade away as quickly as a blog entry.