Diabetes Types

Q - What are the common diabetes types?

A - The common diabetes types are:

Type 1 Diabetes - Which was formerly called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). The major defect in this type of DM is that there is a lack of insulin in the body. The pancreas fails to produce insulin. So the gates that allow glucose to move into the cell remain shut. It is common in young people and it's usually treated by insulin injections and diet. Click to read more about type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 Diabetes - This is more common than type 1 and usually affects older people (adults) and those who are overweight or obese. It was formerly known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). In this type, the body still produces insulin, but the gates which are supposed to allow glucose to enter the cells are too few in number or they don't allow insulin to 'open' them so they are labeled "insulin resistant". It is usually treated by making the body produce more insulin to overcome this resistance. Also certain measures like exercise and weight loss are adopted to make the body produce more of these gates. Click to read more about Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman develops diabetes for the first time while she is pregnant. It usually resolves after the pregnancy and is associated with some very bad complications to the mother and baby. It is treated by dietary modifications and insulin injections but in some cases it becomes necessary to add oral anti-diabetics to dietary therapy. Click to read more about gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Prediabetes - If a person has prediabetes, it means that his/her blood sugar level is above the normal range but not high enough to be diabetes. Not everyone who has prediabetes will develop diabetes but having prediabetes increases the risk of developing diabetes. People with prediabetes can learn how to prevent diabetes by participating in exercises and eating healthy diets. Click to read more about Prediabetes

The table below explains diabetes types and the different names used to Refer to them.

Diabetes Types	Explanations
Brittle diabetes	It is a name used to describe forms of diabetes that have extreme variations in blood sugar levels.
Bronze diabetes	A form of diabetes that arises from damage to the insulin producing cells in the pancreas from excessive deposition of iron. It is also called Hemochromatosis.
Diabetes in pregnancy	Refers to a woman who had diabetes before becoming pregnant.
Gestational diabetes	This is the name given to the kind of diabetes that appears for the first time during pregnancy. It usually resolves afterwards.
Adult onset diabetes or Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)	These are names that were used to describe what we now know as Type 2 diabete because Type 2 diabetes frequently affects adults and is not very responsive to insulin.
Juvenile diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)	These are names that were used to describe what we now know as Type 1 diabetes because it frequently affects children and responds well to insulin.
Prediabetes	Describes blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes mellitus

Q - Is diabetes insipidus the same as diabetees mellitus?

A - No. They are different.
In diabetes insipidus the body is unable to concentrate urine and so it causes large volumes of dilute urine to be passed. In diabetes mellitus, the body is unable to use glucose adequately and this leads to the various symptoms of diabetes.

Created - July, 2009