Illustration of both types of diabetes. On the left, glucose absorption in a healthy individual : insulin (yellow) latches into an insulin receptor (green), which opens the glucose transporter (pink), and allows the cell to absorb the glucose (purple). In the middle, type 1 diabetes : insulin is not produced so cells cannot open their glucose transporters. They dont absorb the glucose, lack sugar to function and blood sugar levels increase. On the right, type 2 diabetes : cells become resistant to insulins action which is no longer recognised by insulin receptors, limiting glucose absorption which then accumulates in the blood causing hypoglycemia.
