Type of Diabetes
The two main types of diabetes correspond to these two mechanisms and are called insulin dependent (type 1) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. In type 1 diabetes there is no insulin or not enough of it. In type 2 diabetes, there is generally enough insulin but the cells upon it should act are not normally sensitive to its action.
While people with diabetes all have high blood sugar the causes of their high blood sugar vary. Physicians have classified diabetes into four types. These classifications serve to identify the underlying disease process which is causing high blood sugar for individual patients
The two main types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 and type 2. Former names for these conditions were insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, or juvenile onset and adult onset diabetes.
Other Specific Types
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Some people are told they have Borderline Diabetes. This terminology is not a diagnosis of diabetes but rather of slightly high blood sugars. This disease is called Impaired Glucose Tolerance and while different from diabetes has health risks of its own.