Diabetes Information and Treatment Guide

Types of Diabetes

05.20.2008 by Dr John Anne in diabetes type

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Diabetes is currently an incurable condition in which too much glucose (sugar) is present in the blood. Find out more about the different types and how it’s treated.Types of Diabetes

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when the blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If left untreated, people with pre-diabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes- Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for 10-15% of all people with the disease. It can appear at any age, although commonly under 40, and is triggered by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or chemicals in people genetically predisposed. People with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times a day and follow a careful diet and exercise plan.

Type 2 Diabetes- The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and ethnicity. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Secondary Types of Diabetes

Secondary types of diabetes are due to a number of causes or states, such as injury to or surgical removal of the pancreas. Additional causes are associated with inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or elevated plasma iron associated with an enlarged liver, pigmentation of the skin, and (frequently) cardiac failure. Hormonal diseases such as Cushing’s disease (puffy red face) or acromegaly (large face, long arms and hands) may also cause diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

Some women develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin.

Misdiagnosis or an unclear diagnosis of diabetes can create problems in treatment. Misunderstanding the causes and changes in the disease as you age also can lead to mistreatment. For these reasons, a clear understanding of the types of diabetes is essential.