What Is Diabetes? | Types of Diabetes

 

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects how your body uses glucose, a type of sugar that is a key source of energy for your body's cells. Glucose comes from the foods you eat and is transported through your bloodstream to your cells, where it is used for energy or stored for later use.

In order for glucose to enter your cells, it needs insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. In people with diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use insulin effectively, which leads to high levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).

Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage nerves, blood vessels, and organs throughout the body, leading to a variety of health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, vision loss, and more.

The most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but there are also other types, such as gestational diabetes, prediabetes, monogenic diabetes, and secondary diabetes.

Diabetes is managed with a combination of medication, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and monitoring blood sugar levels. People with diabetes must work closely with their healthcare team to manage their blood sugar levels and prevent complications.

Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes: This is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a lack of insulin production. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.

2. Type 2 diabetes: This is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for about 90% of all cases. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin, or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

3. Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy when hormones produced by the placenta interfere with insulin's ability to regulate blood sugar. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

4. Prediabetes: This is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle changes such as losing weight and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

5. Monogenic diabetes: This is a rare form of diabetes caused by a mutation in a single gene. Monogenic diabetes can be mistaken for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it usually occurs in younger people and runs in families.

6. Secondary diabetes: This type of diabetes is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as pancreatitis, Cushing's syndrome, or cystic fibrosis. Treatment of the underlying condition can sometimes improve blood sugar control.