Yes, there is a difference.  Type 1 diabetes has to be controlled by insulin, not pills like Type 2 diabetes. The difference between Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and Type 2 (adult onset) is whether or not your pancreas (which is the organ that produces insulin to control blood sugars) still works.

In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is completely dead, not working and never will again. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and comes on before the age of 25.

Type 2 diabetes usually comes on in overweight, inactive adults. Type 2's pancreases still work, it's just that Type 2 cells don't allow the insulin that the pancreas has produced, in to control the blood sugars. Therefore, Type 2 diabetics must take pills to allow the cells to open up and let the insulin in.

Really, the only similarity that these two types of diabetes have in common is that they both have to check their blood sugars often, and it has to do with blood sugar counts. Other than that...they are completely different diseases.

Check out the website for the JDRF of the Ozarks at www.under120.com.