Final answer:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks insulin-secreting beta cells, leading to a lack of insulin. Insulin injections are critical for survival in type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin is produced but is nonfunctional, leading to high blood glucose levels and malnutrition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes lack the insulin needed to keep blood glucose levels within the normal range. Type 1 diabetes may develop in people of any age but is most often diagnosed before adulthood. For type 1 diabetics, insulin injections are critical for survival.
In contrast, type 2 diabetes occurs when the hormone insulin is produced but is nonfunctional. This leads to high blood glucose levels, but none of the glucose is transported into the cells. These patients are described as "starving in a sea of plenty." The lack of glucose entering the cells can lead to malnutrition and other complications.
Insulin is a hormone that helps control the level of glucose in the blood. It is produced by the pancreas. For individuals with type 1 diabetes, the only treatment is the injection of insulin from external sources, as their bodies do not produce enough or any insulin on their own.