One of the chronic disease is diabetes in which the body either cannot use the insulin produced within the body or cannot produce the insulin. Insulin is a type of hormone that is known to control the glucose level in the blood. Insulin is required in the body to release energy using sugar present inside the body.

Diabetes causes high blood sugar levels which can damage blood vessels, organs and nerves of a person. There are numerous types of diabetes and determining the type from which a person is suffering plays a very important role. Genetic syndrome and surgeries might also lead to diabetes.

How Many Types of Diabetes Are There?


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8 Types of Diabetes Mellitus:

Diabetes Mellitus or Diabetes are of 6 known types, but few of them are more prevalent than others. Details about those are given below:

1. Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes):

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common type of diabetes which occurs when the immune system by mistake attacks and kills the beta cells present in the Pancreas. Pancreas in an organ which is found behind the stomach and releases hormones into the digestive system. This causes very little amount of insulin being released into the body and hence the sugar levels build up in the blood of the person instead of getting converted into the energy and being used up. Around 5 to 10 percent people suffering from diabetes are known to have Type 1 diabetes. Usually this disease develops in childhood or adolescence. It was formerly called insulin dependent diabetes or juvenile onset diabetes.

Symptoms at the start include serious illness due to sudden indication of high blood sugar levels. Some scientist even feel that this is a genetic condition while others feel that it is due to virus that prompts the immune system to attack the pancreas.

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2. Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is a diabetes type normally seen among people who are overweight. This occurs when the body fails to use the insulin released properly or does not make complete use of the insulin. Improper usage causes sugar to accumulate in the blood causing diabetes. This type diabetes is the common among all and about 80 to 90 percent people suffering from diabetes are known to have type 2 diabetes. This is common among adults but sometimes even children suffer from the same, but this happens in rare cases. This was formerly known as non insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset. As the disease gets worse the pancreas make less and less insulin which can damage the body to a great extent if not curbed and treated on time.

Proper meal planning and adding physical activity to your daily routine will surely help you to manage this problem. You can even go for insulin injections if the conditions become non-manageable.

Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes types is usually a disease for life because the pancreas cells are destroyed, and one needs to take insulin shots or insulin pumps to inject the required amount of insulin in the body. In addition to this careful attention must be paid to have a healthy diet and adding different exercises to your daily routine will also help to prevent unusual fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Whereas, Type 2 Disease is basically a lifestyle disease because it is cause due to sedentary lifestyle, having a habit of not participating in any exercise or any physical activity and being overweight. Heredity factor is also associated with its occurrence. If a parent has this disease, then it has been notice that the child will also suffer from it in the later stages of life.

3. Gestational Diabetes:

Gestational diabetes takes place during pregnancy. This diabetes develops during third trimester of the pregnancy period that is between 24 to 28 weeks. It usually disappears once the baby is born but sometimes increases the risk of type 2 disease to occur in later stages of life. It has been noticed that the older the woman is during her pregnancy higher is the risk of developing gestational disease during pregnancy. It is temporary in nature because it disappears once the baby is born. Common gestational disease is diabetes mellitus. This disease should not be taken lightly because it can cause danger to life of both the baby and the mother.

You can try to manage this condition by changing your lifestyle, exercising daily and by taking medications and insulin injections. Last two options must be avoided as much as possible. Around four percent of all pregnant women suffer from this disease. Good care and proper follow up is required to protect the mother and the fetus.

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4. Type 3 Diabetes:

Type 3 diabetes is the title which has been proposed for the Alzheimer’s disease resulting in resistance to insulin in the brain. Researchers have found that people suffering from type 2 diabetes have deposits of proteins known as amyloid beta in pancreas. These are comparable to the protein deposits found in the brain tissue of the people suffering from Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer is characterized by loss of memory and confusions. People over the age of 65 generally suffer from this type a diabetes. It can damage the cells and nerves of the brain which in turn can lead to speech difficulties and forgetfulness. The blend of type 2 disease along with Alzheimer is known as type 3 diabetes.

5. Double Diabetes:

Double diabetes is a combination of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this disease the person suffering develops insulin resistance and the key features of type 2 disease. In this case the most common reason for insulin resistance is obesity.

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6. Brittle Diabetes:

Brittle diabetes also known as labile diabetes. People suffering from brittle diabetes face extreme and frequent swings in blood glucose levels, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The main reason for its occurrence is absorption problems in intestines. This includes properly dealing with absorption issues, drug interactions, malfunctioning of hormones and delayed stomach emptying. It causes severe low blood sugar levels which can also cause adrenal gland and thyroid problems. It is also associated with psychological issues such as depression and stress. Brittle diabetes rarely occurs. It has been found that 3 out of 1000 diabetes patients suffer from brittle diabetes.

7. Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY):

This is a rare form of diabetes that is caused by a genetic mutation and typically develops in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by insulin secretion and sensitivity, and it requires treatment with insulin.

8. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA):

This type of diabetes affects adults and is characterized by a slow progression from insulin resistance to insulin-dependent diabetes. People with LADA may not initially require insulin, but they eventually need it to manage their blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is a very serious disease. It’s important to understand that the type of diabetes you have will influence the treatment and management approach you will need to follow. Consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Changing your lifestyle and exercising daily can also help you to improve the condition and reduce its adverse effects.

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About Sandeep

With a decade of experience as a content creator at Stylesatlife, sandeep brings a wealth of expertise to lifestyle writing. His articles, on fashion, beauty, wellness, and travel, reflect a passion for delivering engaging and informative content. Sandeep unique blend of creativity and meticulous research establishes him as a trusted voice in the dynamic world of lifestyle journalism.
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