What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas can no longer produce insulin. This is caused by autoimmune destruction (your body against itself) of the beta cells, the insulin-producing cells (in the Islets of Langerhans) in the pancreas. The classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes are polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (excess eating), which is unusual with the weight loss that is also a common symptom. These symptoms generally occur rather quickly. This type of diabetes can occur at any age, but more often occurs in younger people. Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile-onset or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and accounts for about 5%-10% of the overall diabetes population.
Medical Management of Type 1 Diabetes, 4th Edition American Diabetes Association, 2004
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is caused by the inability of the beta cells in the pancreas (Islets of Langerhans) to produce enough insulin to keep up with the body’s needs. The body also does not use the insulin that is produced very well. The risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes are obesity, family history, lack of activity, and race or ethnicity. Often, symptoms can be absent or can be mild and appear over years before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90%-95% of the overall diabetes population.
Medical Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 5th Edition American Diabetes Association, 2004
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women, generally in the third trimester of the pregnancy (about 24 weeks). It is most likely related to the increased insulin need during pregnancy. It occurs in about 3%-8% of pregnancies. It goes away at the end of the pregnancy, but women who have had gestational diabetes are at greater risk for developing diabetes in the future.
To learn more about gestational diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association. Source: American Diabetes Association
Medical Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 5th Edition American Diabetes Association, 2004
What is Pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Patients with pre-diabetes have impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or both, and they are at increased risk for developing diabetes. However, having pre-diabetes is not an absolute guarantee that a diagnosis of diabetes will be made, especially if the person increases his or her physical activity and loses weight.
ADA, Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, 2008
Risk Factors
It is hard to predict who will get diabetes, but most people who get it have one or more risk factors. People with a close family member with type 1 diabetes are more likely to get diabetes than the general population. The risk factors for type 2 diabetes are:
- A family history of diabetes
- Being overweight
- Race
- High blood pressure
- Inactivity
- Women who have had gestational diabetes
Making a Diagnosis
Diabetes is diagnosed by one of the following and confirmed as needed on a separate day.
- Fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL (≥7.0 mmol/L)
- 2-hour plasma glucose following a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test ≥200 mg/dL (≥11.1 mmol/L)
- Random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL (≥11.1 mmol/L) plus symptoms of diabetes, such as polyuria, (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), unexplained weight loss
ADA, Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, Diabetes Care, 2008