Diabetes is a chronic disease that appears when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body has difficulty using it. This hormone facilitates the entry of glucose, the main sugar in the blood, into the cells, where it is used as a source of energy. When this mechanism fails, its levels rise and, if they remain elevated, they can damage the heart, the kidneys, and the eyes. Early detection and medical follow-up reduce the risk of these complications.
According to the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, published in 2025, it is estimated that in 2024, worldwide, 1 in 9 adults aged 20 to 79 lived with diabetes. Of them, more than 4 in 10 had not yet received a diagnosis. Distinguishing type 1 diabetes from type 2 helps to understand which treatment each requires and which measures can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
How Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Differ
Type 1 diabetes is of autoimmune origin, meaning that the body’s defenses mistakenly attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Therefore, administering insulin is essential and part of a treatment that also includes regular glucose checks, healthy eating, and physical activity.
In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance is often involved, which occurs when cells respond less effectively to this hormone. If the pancreas stops compensating for that difficulty, blood sugar rises. The development of this form of the disease involves individual predisposition and factors such as sedentary lifestyle and obesity. The fat that accumulates around abdominal organs deserves special attention due to its association with this reduced response.
Why Childhood Matters
For a long time, diabetes diagnosed in children was mainly associated with type 1. The presence of type 2 in children and adolescents broadens the challenge and forces us to look at what opportunities exist to adopt habits that protect health over the years.
Nutritional education from school and daily physical activity are part of prevention. When active play has a place in the day and children learn about nutrition in class, families have more support to sustain those habits. It also matters how weight is discussed, because comments that generate shame can contribute to distress and make it harder for a child or their family to seek help.
For those who already have a diagnosis, the school day also requires organizing care. In the case of type 1, that means integrating monitoring and insulin administration into class schedules, meals, and play, with the support of the health team.
What Advances in Treatment Bring
Safest and more flexible insulins, together with monitoring systems that record how glucose varies during the day, broaden the possibilities of tailoring treatment to each person’s routine. These records guide decisions made with the medical team based on what happens between visits.
In type 2, medications that mimic the action of GLP-1, a hormone involved in regulating blood sugar and appetite, have also been introduced. In certain patients, these drugs can improve control and support weight loss. Their use depends on medical evaluation and is integrated with follow-up, diet, and physical activity.
Stress Also Influences Daily Care
When faced with a state of tension, the body releases cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones that prepare the body to respond to a demand and can raise blood sugar. When stress is prolonged, cortisol can also contribute to cells responding less effectively to insulin. Add fatigue and poor rest to this, which can affect meal timing, the desire to move, and the ability to take medication as prescribed.
Asking how someone sleeps, which times of day are most challenging, and who they rely on to organize themselves reveals obstacles that may go unnoticed in a consultation. In some cases, it’s helpful to review how care tasks are distributed during the day. In others, professional support to manage stress can ease the emotional burden of living with a chronic disease.
At school, reserving time for active play and incorporating nutrition education are concrete prevention choices. In the clinic, understanding what happens at home, in class, or at work guides the selection of a treatment that each person can sustain.
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace a medical consultation with a licensed professional.
Source: Dr. Laura Maffei (M.N. 62441). Endocrinologist and clinical researcher. Director of Maffei Medical Center and Applied Clinical Research. Author of Alicia in the Land of Stress. @dralauramaffei
