Types of Diabetes
The three main types of diabetes are:
Type 1 diabetes
Also known as: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), Type I diabetes, or juvenile-onset diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Also known as: non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), Type II diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes
Gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy)
Type 1 Diabetes
In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. A person with this disease must take daily injections of insulin, to survive. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in children and young adults, but the disease can be diagnosed at any age. It accounts for about 5-10% of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in the United States.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90-95% of diagnosed cases in the United States. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the insulin doesn’t work effectively (or the person’s body cells don’t work with the insulin effectively). As a result, blood sugar rises to unhealthy levels.
People with Type 2 diabetes may use diet and exercise, oral medications, and/or insulin to control their blood sugar. In the past, Type 2 diabetes was a disease of older adults. However, with the rising incidence of obesity among children, more and more children nowadays are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops (or is diagnosed) in pregnant women only. The disorder usually disappears after the pregnancy is over, but women who have had gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
Points to Remember
People with Type 1 diabetes need injections of insulin to survive – their bodies have stopped manufacturing it. People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but it does not work effectively. They may use oral medications or injected insulin to control their disease, in combination with diet and exercise. Pregnant women who develop diabetes have gestational diabetes. This disorder usually goes away after the baby is born, but the woman may later develop Type 2 diabetes.