What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
The main difference in type 1 vs type 2 diabetes is how insulin breaks down. In type 1, the immune system attacks the beta cells that make insulin. In type 2, the body stops listening to insulin, called insulin resistance, and beta cells wear out over time. According to the book, researchers are studying ways to support the body's own insulin making.
Key points
- Insulin is like a key. It unlocks your cells so sugar from your blood can get in and be used for energy.
- Beta cells make the keys. They are found in clusters in the pancreas.
- Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes causes: type 1 is autoimmune, where the immune system attacks beta cells. Type 2 is slower and starts with insulin resistance.
- In type 2, the pancreas makes more and more insulin to keep up, and over time the stressed beta cells do not work as well.
- Over years, high blood sugar can hurt blood vessels and nerves. The book talks about kidney problems, vision problems, nerve pain and slow wound healing.
- Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes treatment today means insulin shots, pills and lifestyle. The book calls these valuable tools that manage blood sugar from the outside.
- The book describes three paths researchers are studying: help remaining beta cells multiply, convert neighbor cells into insulin makers, or grow new insulin-making cells in a lab. The lab path is research only, not a clinic service.
- In type 1, new cells can get attacked too, so the book talks about mesenchymal stem cells supporting regulatory T cells and a capsule that works like a screen door.
- This is still early research, and the book is clear: never change your insulin or medications on your own.
Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes
Read the full transcript · Download the MP3 · Voices are AI-generated from a script based on the book.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes: how insulin breaks down
Diabetes is all about insulin. Insulin is like a key that unlocks your cells so sugar from your blood can get in and be used for energy. Type 1 and type 2 break that system in different ways.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes side by side
In type 1, the cause is autoimmune: the immune system attacks the beta cells, and it often starts in childhood or the teen years. In type 2, the process is slower and starts with insulin resistance, with beta cells wearing out over time. Today's care is insulin, pills and lifestyle changes, and researchers are studying ways to support the body's own insulin making.
Where are beta cells found, and what do they do?
Beta cells sit in clusters in the pancreas, called islets. Their function is to make insulin, the key. The book also notes that healthy beta cells can sense sugar levels and release the right amount of insulin.
Type 1 diabetes: the key factory gets shut down
Type 1 is autoimmune. The immune system mistakes the beta cells for invaders and attacks them, a bit like friendly fire. The book says this often happens in childhood or the teen years, though it can start at any age. Classic signs it lists include strong thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
Why high blood sugar matters
In both types, blood sugar stays high. Over years, that can hurt blood vessels and nerves. The book talks about kidney problems, vision problems, nerve pain, heart disease and slow wound healing.
What causes type 1 vs type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack on the beta cells. Type 2 diabetes starts with insulin resistance, when cells stop listening to insulin and the pancreas works harder to keep up. According to the book, both types end the same way: blood sugar stays high.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is when the cells in your body stop responding well to insulin. The book compares it to a sticky lock. The pancreas makes more and more insulin to keep up, and over time the beta cells get stressed and may not work as well. Type 2 diabetes starts with insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance treatment today
According to the book, insulin resistance treatment today combines pills and lifestyle changes. Some pills help the remaining beta cells work harder, and others help the body's tissues respond better to the insulin already there. The book calls these valuable tools that manage blood sugar from the outside. Never change your insulin or medications on your own.
How type 1 and type 2 diabetes are usually treated
Today's care is insulin shots, pills and lifestyle changes. The book says these are valuable tools. They manage blood sugar from the outside, but they do not bring back the beta cells.
The mental load
The book spends real time on the mental side. Managing diabetes means dozens of decisions a day, with no break. Many people describe that as exhausting, and it is something medical numbers often miss.
Three paths researchers are studying
The regenerative idea is to support the body's own insulin making again. The book describes three main paths, all still being researched.
Help existing beta cells multiply
Beta cells rarely divide in adults. The book says certain growth signals may nudge the ones you still have to multiply.
Beta cells vs alpha cells: changing jobs
Alpha cells are neighbors of beta cells in the pancreas, and they make a different hormone, glucagon. The book says some of these neighbor cells may be able to change jobs and become insulin makers if they get the right signals.
Grow new insulin-making cells in a lab (research only)
Researchers can guide stem cells through steps that copy how a pancreas normally develops. The goal is cells that respond to sugar: you eat, blood sugar goes up, and they release insulin, more like a healthy pancreas. This is laboratory research the book describes. It is not a treatment Beyond Stem Cells offers.
Protecting new cells, and why it is still early
In type 1, there is a catch. If the immune system is still attacking, new cells can get attacked too.
- Mesenchymal stem cells: the book says they may help calm the immune attack without shutting the whole immune system down, by supporting regulatory T cells, the referees.
- A physical shield: a little capsule with tiny holes. Sugar and insulin pass through, but the bigger immune cells cannot get in, like a screen door.
- Still early: lab-made cells are not yet as precise as natural ones, need a good blood supply to survive, and are complex to make. The book says this work is still being refined.
- Timing: the book says future care will likely move earlier, such as the type 1 honeymoon phase, when some beta cells are still working.
This goes alongside your regular doctor's care, not instead of it. Never change your insulin or medications on your own.
Chapter 10 in one line
Diabetes care today works from the outside, and researchers are trying to help the body do more from the inside.
Episode 10 transcript.
Read along, or skim the parts you care about most.
EliseOkay so, chapter ten. And this one's about diabetes. Which, I feel like everybody knows somebody.
GuideOh, for sure. It's everywhere.
EliseSo give me the basics. What's actually going wrong?
GuideSo it's all about insulin. Insulin is like a key. It unlocks your cells so sugar from your blood can get in and be used for energy.
EliseOkay, a key. I can follow that.
GuideAnd the keys are made by these cells in your pancreas called beta-cells.
EliseBeta-cells. Got it.
GuideNow, type 1 and type 2 break in different ways.
EliseOkay, type 1 first.
GuideType 1 is autoimmune. The immune system mistakes the beta-cells for invaders and attacks them.
EliseWait, so like friendly fire?
GuideExactly like that. So the key factory gets shut down.
EliseAnd type 2?
GuideType 2 is slower. The cells in your body stop listening to insulin. That's called insulin resistance.
EliseSo the lock gets sticky.
GuideYes! The lock gets sticky. So the pancreas makes more and more keys to keep up.
EliseAnd it gets worn out.
GuideOver time, yeah. The beta-cells get stressed and don't work as well.
EliseAnd that's why blood sugar stays high.
GuideRight. And over years, that high sugar can hurt blood vessels and nerves. The book talks about kidney problems, vision problems, nerve pain, slow wound healing.
EliseOkay, so normally it's insulin shots, pills, lifestyle.
GuideYep. And the book says those are valuable tools. They just manage blood sugar from the outside. They don't bring back the beta-cells.
EliseSo what's the regenerative idea?
GuideTo support the body's own insulin making again. And the book describes three main paths researchers are studying.
EliseOkay, hit me.
GuideOne, get the beta-cells you still have to multiply. Normally they rarely divide in adults, but certain growth signals may nudge them.
EliseHuh.
GuideTwo, convert neighbor cells in the pancreas into insulin makers. Some cells can change jobs if they get the right signals.
EliseLike cross-training.
GuideKind of, yeah. And three, grow new insulin-making cells in a lab from stem cells, and then place them in the body.
EliseWait, they can do that?
GuideThey're working on it. The book says researchers can guide stem cells through steps that copy how a pancreas normally develops.
EliseThat's wild. And those cells actually respond to sugar?
GuideThat's the goal. You eat, blood sugar goes up, they release insulin. More like how a healthy pancreas works.
EliseInstead of me doing the math all day.
GuideRight. And the book really talks about that. The mental load. Dozens of decisions a day, and you never get a break.
EliseYeah, that sounds exhausting.
GuideIt is. So okay, here's the catch with type 1.
EliseUh oh.
GuideIf the immune system is still attacking, new cells can get attacked too.
EliseOh no. So the attack just keeps going.
GuideExactly. So that's where MSCs come in. The book says they may help calm the immune attack without shutting the whole immune system down.
EliseLike a referee?
GuideKind of, yeah. A referee. They support those regulatory T-cells.
EliseAny other ways to protect them?
GuideThere's a physical shield idea. A little capsule with tiny holes. Sugar and insulin can pass through, but the bigger immune cells can't get in.
EliseOh, like a screen door. Air gets in, bugs don't.
GuideThat's perfect, actually. Yeah.
EliseSo is this all ready to go?
GuideNo. And the book is honest about that. Lab-made cells still aren't as precise as natural ones. They need a good blood supply to survive. And making them is complex and expensive.
EliseSo still early.
GuideStill early. Researchers are studying it, and the book says early results are encouraging, but still being refined.
EliseAnd when would someone even think about this?
GuideThe book says future care will likely move earlier. Like in type 1, there's a honeymoon phase, where some beta-cells are still working.
EliseSo you'd want to protect what's left.
GuideExactly. And one really important thing. This goes alongside your regular doctor's care, not instead of it. Never change your insulin or meds on your own.
EliseSo if you had to sum up chapter ten?
GuideDiabetes care today works from the outside. Researchers are trying to help the body do more from the inside.
EliseLove it. And, quick reminder, this is general info, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
GuideAlways.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
Frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
In type 1, the immune system attacks the beta cells that make insulin. In type 2, the body stops responding well to insulin, called insulin resistance, and the beta cells wear out over time from working harder.
What causes type 1 vs type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack on the beta cells that make insulin. Type 2 diabetes starts with insulin resistance, and the beta cells wear out over time from working harder. Talk to your own provider about your situation.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is when the cells in your body stop listening to insulin. The book compares it to a sticky lock. The pancreas makes more insulin to keep up, which stresses the beta cells.
What do beta cells do?
Beta cells are found in clusters in the pancreas. Their function is to make insulin and release it when blood sugar rises.
What is the difference between alpha cells and beta cells?
Alpha cells and beta cells are neighbors in the pancreas. Beta cells make insulin, while alpha cells make a different hormone, glucagon. The book says some neighbor cells may be able to change jobs and become insulin makers, which researchers are studying.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
The book lists strong thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and fatigue as classic signs once the body can no longer make enough insulin. Talk to your own provider about any symptoms.
Can stem cells help with diabetes?
Stem cells and diabetes are a research topic, not a clinic service. The book describes growing insulin-making cells from stem cells in a lab and using mesenchymal stem cells to calm the immune attack in type 1. It says this work is still being refined. Never change your insulin or medications on your own.
Where is Beyond Stem Cells located?
Beyond Stem Cells is at 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123, serving the Denver metro. This podcast is general education, not medical advice.
Want to learn more about the regenerative medicine ideas in this episode? Read about regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells, our medical team, frequently asked questions.
Further reading: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: what is diabetes?.
Want the whole book? Get the free Beyond Stem Cells book.
Regenerative care in Littleton and the Denver metro.
Beyond Stem Cells sits just off S Cody St in Littleton, an easy drive from Ken Caryl, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Englewood and Lakewood.
Questions about your own situation?
The podcast is general education. If you want to talk about your own health, request a consultation with our team.
Beyond Stem Cells · 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123 · (833) 720-7836 · info@beyondstemcells.com
Medical disclaimer: This page is general education based on the book Beyond Stem Cells by John Comandari and Neville Campbell, MD. It is not medical advice. Individual results vary and no specific outcome is promised. Talk to your own provider about your situation.