Diabetes Types
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Diabetes Types
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders with one common manifestation: hyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus used to classify diabetes by their clinical presentation. They were classified as either "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM). These classifications for diabetes mellitus became confusing when patients who were diagnosed as non-insulin dependent were being treated with insulin.
Diabetes types are classified as either type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually affects younger people and used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can affect any age and has a strong correlation to obesity.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means your body cannot do the necessary work to protect you from it. Doctors believe that certain environmental conditions can trigger the onset of type 1 diabetes. A virus can trigger the destruction of the beta cells that produce insulin, which can lead to getting type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is mostly diagnosed in children and was previously referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. However, so many cases were found in adults that it became known as type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is associated with what is known as insulin resistance. People with type 2 diabetes produce plenty of insulin; however they do not respond to the insulin in a normal fashion. Due to this, Type 2 diabetes is referred to as noninsulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes affects people mainly over the age of 40 and is the most common type of diabetes. In the United States, 16-18 million people have type 2 diabetes. Doctors agree that genetic factors cause type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetics are insulin resistant first, then a poor diet, inactivity, aging, and obesity are what trigger the disease.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that a very small percentage of pregnant women can develop. Even if you have never had diabetes previously, it is possible to get gestational diabetes during pregnancy. If you are diabetic prior to becoming pregnant, this is referred to as pregestational diabetes.
The various diabetes types mentioned above should all be treated by a medical professional. If you think that you may have any of these diabetes types, please consult your primary care doctor for a medical check up.