Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and Type 2: Mechanisms and the Truth

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and Type 2 are two different diseases united by a common symptom: elevated blood glucose levels. Without understanding their underlying mechanisms, it is impossible to properly assess risks or make informed treatment decisions. This course systematically explains how pathogenesis, clinical course, and long-term outlook differ between both types, based on current scientific evidence. The program starts with core endocrinology: you will study in detail the functions of the pancreas, the synthesis and secretion of insulin, the role of glucagon, and how they interact under normal conditions. Next, it covers the mechanisms behind hyperglycemia—from autoimmune destruction of β-cells in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 to insulin resistance and relative secretory insufficiency in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. Separate lessons focus on differential diagnosis criteria: determining C-peptide, antibodies to islet cells, and assessing insulin sensitivity. You will review the concepts of remission, the “honeymoon phase,” and factors that contribute to disease progression. The material includes interpreting laboratory test results and clinical scoring scales. The course methodology is built around a step-by-step breakdown of physiological processes without excessive simplification. Each topic is accompanied by clear diagrams and examples from clinical practice. Special attention is given to common misconceptions: why a diet “does not work” in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, how to distinguish diabetic ketoacidosis from hyperosmolar states, and in which cases insulin withdrawal may be possible in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. You will learn to identify logical errors in popular articles and promotional materials about diabetes treatment. The course is intended for general practitioners and endocrinologists who want to systematize their knowledge; for nurses working with patients with diabetes; for medical students studying endocrinology; and also for patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and their relatives who want a deep understanding of the disease. By the end of the course, you will confidently differentiate diabetes types using clinical and laboratory criteria, understand the molecular mechanisms of action of the main classes of glucose-lowering drugs, be able to correctly interpret test results for insulin and C-peptide, and formulate well-founded questions for the treating physician based on evidence-based medicine.