Type 1 Diabetes Require Insulin for Life

People with type 1 diabetes require insulin for life because insulin is essential for using and storing food.

These people are usually lean and, without insulin, would go into a diabetic coma within a day or two. In the past, this disease was called "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM). The proper name is now type 1diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes have enough insulin early in the disease, but their bodies are unable to use the insulin correctly to lower blood sugar. They are insulin resistant.

Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and more than 30 years old when diagnosed. Often, people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar with diet and exercise, though some take oral diabetes pills.

After several years with type 2 diabetes, many people eventually need insulin as the disease progresses. In the past, this type of diabetes was called "non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM). The correct term is now type 2 diabetes.