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Diabetes is a serious chronic condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar. There are several types of diabetes, which have various treatments.
Without ongoing, careful management, diabetes can lead to a buildup of sugars in the blood, which can increase the risk of dangerous complications, including stroke, kidney failure, Retinopathy and heart ailment.
Different kinds of diabetes can occur, and how people manage the condition depends on the type. Not all forms of diabetes stem from a person being overweight or leading an inactive lifestyle. Some are present from childhood.
The most common types of diabetes include type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, which we cover in more detail below. Less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis- related.
There are several types of diabetes.
Also known as juvenile diabetes, type 1 DM occurs when the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone responsible for breaking down the sugar in the blood for use throughout the body. A person living with type 1 diabetes receive a diagnosis during childhood.
People living with type 1 diabetes need to administer insulin on a regular basis. Individuals may do this with injection or an insulin pump.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Once a person receives their diagnosis, they will need to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels, administer insulin, and make some lifestyle changes to help manage the condition.
Successfully managing blood sugar levels can help people living with type 1 diabetes avoid serious complications. Some common complications include:
Type 2 diabetes
this is the most common type of diabetes, and it has strong links with obesity.
A person living with type 2 diabetes may or may not need insulin. In many cases, medication along with changes in exercise and diet can help manage the condition.
Anyone, including children and adults, can develop type 2 diabetes. The most common risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
Type 2 diabetes
It occurs during pregnancy when an individual becomes less sensitive to insulin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2-10% of pregnancies each year result in gestational diabetes. Individuals who are overweight going into their pregnancy have an elevated
risk of developing the condition.
The CDC adds that around 50% of people with gestational diabetes will later develop type 2 diabetes.
During pregnancy, individuals can take steps to manage the condition. These include:
Gestational diabetes can increase a person’s risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can also cause:
Prediabetes
or borderline diabetes, occurs when a person’s blood sugar levels are elevated but not enough for a
diagnosis of diabetes. For a doctor to diagnose prediabetes, an individual must meet the following
criteria:
People living with prediabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but they do not
usually experience the symptoms of full diabetes.
The risk factors for a person developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar. They include:
