Types Of Diabetes

QUESTION: What are the different types of diabetes?

ANSWER:

There are three main types of diabetes that have been categorized by medical scientists.

• The first type is called Type I Diabetes. Formerly known as juvenile diabetes, this type begins to make its appearance in pre-adolescence or adolescent growth. It is an insulin dependent autoimmune disease in which the body destroys its own beta cells. It accounts for 10% of all diabetes types.
  
  
• The second type is called Type II Diabetes. This disease generally appears after 40 years of age. It is most likely triggered by poor diet and lack of exercise. Because of poor diets and the availability of fast food, Type II diabetes is now showing up in teenagers. It is non-insulin dependent, meaning insulin is used to control blood sugar levels but is not crucial to maintaining life.
  
  
• Gestational Diabetes is the third type of diabetes. Occurring during a woman’s pregnancy, the mother has difficulty digesting carbohydrates. Gynecologists usually perform this test on all pregnant women early in the first trimester.

There is also a condition called Pre-Diabetes. This condition is defined as someone who has elevated blood sugar levels, but does not fall into a clearly defined category.

Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovary Disease, Hemocromatosis and Cystic Fibrosis are additional types of insulin resistant diabetes.

As a Type I diabetic ages, the symptomatic lines begin to blur into Type II. A person can also be typed as Type 1.5, Type 2-s or Type 2-d.

It is very important that factors such as ketones, antibodies, high triglyceride and low HDL, uric acid, and C-peptide be taken into account for your diagnosis.

Incorrectly categorizing diabetes is very common. Conditions that worsen or don’t show improvement should be brought to the attention of a diabetic specialist.

As aging blurs the lines of the types of diabetes, it is very important to review your symptoms often.