Diabetes Types: Complete Guide to Different Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is a prevalent health condition spread in over 10% of the American population. In India, around 77 million adults have diabetes. This disease affects your body by increasing blood sugar levels. With time, the percentage of affected individuals is notably rising and starting to affect various body parts, including the kidneys, heart, eyes, blood vessels, and nerves. But why?

The changing lifestyle and unhealthy food habits are the prime reasons behind the menace. From children to women, no human diversity is spared by this health condition. To have a complete overview of this condition, this page describes the different diabetes types. Along with the types of blood sugar, you can navigate through the risk factors and other important aspects associated with this disease.

An Overview of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health issue affecting your metabolism by impacting how your body changes food into energy. The food eaten is converted into sugars and released into your bloodstream. When it reaches the pancreas, it signals it to release the pancreatic hormone insulin. As a result, different types of insulin are released, which on the other hand, is responsible for helping blood sugar in our cells to transform into energy.

We suffer from diabetes when our bodies cannot produce enough insulin. As a result, much of the blood sugar remains in the bloodstream without turning into energy. This condition is also termed hyperglycaemia. When kept untreated, this can cause health issues of a wide array. Many diabetic patients have witnessed vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease that are difficult to treat.

Different Types of Diabetes

Populations from all around the globe primarily suffer from 2 diabetes types. Besides them, diabetes can also be categorised into five other types. Read on to learn about diabetes and its types to understand these commonly occurring health problems and try to find a solution as soon as you are diagnosed.

Type 1 Diabetes

In this type of the diabetes disease, your body produces negligible amounts of insulin, which is insufficient to convert the sugar available in your bloodstream into energy. Consequently, your body is devoid of energy and has a surplus of blood sugar. Also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, this condition is predominant among children, teenagers, and young individuals. If you know someone suffering from diabetes, we recommend you manage this condition on a daily basis. The treatment requires following a strict regime for all your life; thus, managing it properly is the key to winning over this illness.

Causes of Type I Diabetes

It is thought that type 1 diabetes is triggered by an autoimmune response in which the body mistakenly attacks its own cells, leading to the destruction of beta cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. This process can take months or even years before signs and symptoms manifest.

Certain genetic traits can predispose individuals to type 1 diabetes, yet they may never acquire the illness even if they possess these genes. Plus, external factors, like viruses, can be responsible for the development of type 1 diabetes. In this case, diet and lifestyle choices do not play a role.

Signs of Type I Diabetes

The signs of type I diabetes usually take several months or even years to occur. However, the problem lies here because as the symptoms arise, the condition gets severe. Besides, it does not have any specific symptoms associated with it. Many consider the symptoms related to other health complications and let the problem aggravate. Some of the common diabetes type I symptoms are noted below.

• Frequent urination is a common symptom seen in type I diabetic people.
• People feel thirsty all the time, even after drinking water frequently.
• Even after eating wholesome meals, people feel like eating more.
• Blurry vision is a significant sign to see a doctor and check for type I diabetes.
• When you have cuts and bruises, it takes longer than usual to heel completely.
• Fatigue and tiredness persist even after long hours of sleep and rest.
• Some witness weight loss even after eating more than regular.

Diagnosing Type I Diabetes

Due to the quick onset of symptoms, a physician specialising in paediatric care can diagnose type 1 diabetes. A paediatrician may also evaluate a child’s glucose levels if there has been sudden weight loss and the onset of bedwetting. Furthermore, glucose tests are commonly conducted when a person with an indication of type 1 diabetes is admitted to the hospital.

Medical professionals can identify type 1 diabetes by conducting various types of blood sugar tests to assess blood glucose levels. The primary diagnostic test for type 1 diabetes is a random blood sugar analysis, which shows the amount of glucose in a person’s bloodstream at any given point. If the results show a blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per decilitre, it indicates diabetes.

A glycated haemoglobin test, also known as an A1C test, is a secondary test used for the diagnosis of type I diabetes. This test indicates the average amount of glucose present in an individual’s bloodstream over a span of 90 days, determined in percentage.

NOTE: If a person has high blood sugar for a week or a few days, it won’t have a significant effect on their A1C test results, which provide an accurate impression of the glucose levels over the last three months.

Treating Type I Diabetes

As type I diabetes emerges due to low insulin secretion, it is recommended to treat it with a supplemental insulin dose. See a doctor, and they will prescribe the suitable hormone dose required to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

Type II Diabetes

This is the most common form of diabetes seen in humans, usually noted among individuals after the age of 45. However, in recent years, many teens and young adults have also been diagnosed with this diabetes type. In this type of diabetes, insulin production is not hampered; rather, your cells do not properly respond to insulin. This phenomenon is called insulin resistance. In such a situation, your pancreas tries to secrete more amounts of insulin but ultimately gives up when none responds to it. This is when the type II prediabetic stage comes into play. Like type I diabetes, this diabetes also affects the body in totality.

Causes of Type II Diabetes

Many underlying reasons cause type 2 diabetes. Some of them are noted below.

Obesity and lack of Physical Activities

Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur among individuals who remain inactive for long periods. Obesity is a common consequence of inactivity, which may lead to type 2 diabetes. The accumulation of fat in particular areas may also be an underlying reason. Fat deposition in our bellies can lead to insulin resistance, leading to diseases related to blood vessels and the heart.

Family History

Like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can also be linked with genes. This diabetes disease commonly flows from one generation to another and is predominant in many ethnic groups, including Alaska natives, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are similar to those of type 1 diabetes. The symptoms include the following.

• Feeling thirsty frequently
• Urinating frequently, especially during the nighttime
• Always feeling tired and exhausted
• Minor cuts taking days to weeks to subside, sometimes even leading to infections when not treated early
• Itchy private areas (vagina and penis) in both men and women
• Losing significant weight while having a usual diet
• Blurred vision is a common sign of type 2 diabetes.

Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is generally measured using an A1C test, just like type 1 diabetes. This test measures the glucose associated with haemoglobin molecules denoting the average level of blood sugar seen in the last 2 to 3 months.

NOTE: Your doctor may recommend other types of blood sugar tests, which may need to be conducted, before and after having a full meal.

Treating Type 2 Diabetes

Biguanide medicines like metformin are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes. This targets the glucose produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream and lowers the blood glucose level. Plus, it elevates the sensitivity of your cells to insulin, which implies that the insulin produced is properly utilised by your cells, and as a result, no excess blood glucose is found in the bloodstream. These medicines are also effective in reducing the risk of complications associated with diabetes, like stroke.

Other Types of Diabetes

Besides type 1 and type 2 diabetes, several other types are observed in many cases. These conditions are mentioned below.

Gestational Diabetes (GDM)

This is another common reason for type 2 diabetes, but it subsides after the gestation period. Pregnant women face this situation due to abnormalities related to the hormone levels, lifestyle, and genetic factors. This is usually witnessed at a later stage of pregnancy; while some are capable of overcoming insulin resistance, some could be incapable. Being overweight or having a high BMI can also elicit such a situation. Even though this subsides after pregnancy, you are likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes in the later stage of life.

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)

MODY differs vastly from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This is a rare form of diabetes that is seen when there is a mutation in a particular gene. This is passed from parents to their children. If one parent has this mutation, the child has a 50% possibility of inheriting this gene. If the gene is transferred to the child, they will have MODY before turning 25, regardless of their lifestyle, weight, or ethnic group. MODY is further classified into 4 types, as described below.

1. HNF1-alpha-associated MODY

This gene causes 70% of MODY cases worldwide. This is similar to type 1 diabetes as it reduces insulin production in the pancreas. This gene is expressed between attending adolescence and early twenties. Unlike type 1 diabetes, people do not need insulin to manage this condition; they require small doses of the sulphonylurea group of drugs, which is also used to treat a few cases of type 2 diabetes.

2. HNF1-beta-associated MODY

People witness various health issues, including uterine abnormalities, gout, and renal cysts, when they have a mutated HNF1-beta gene.

3. HNF4-alpha

People with this mutated gene may have a birth weight of 9 lb or more. This induces low sugar levels at birth, which needs treatment. This condition is generally treated with sulphonylurea tablets initially and, later on, may require doses of insulin to manage. Diabetes-related to HNF4-alpha genes typically takes place at a later stage of life. Following a balanced diet and keeping yourself physically active, besides taking up recommended insulin doses, are the keys to battling this diabetes.

4. Glucokinase

The gene associated with the enzyme glucokinase helps your body to detect high blood sugar levels. When this gene stops working, higher amounts of blood glucose remain in your body. However, this does not have major health implications as the amounts of blood glucose are only slightly above the normal range. Plus, this does not have long-term effects on any organ.

Neonatal Diabetes

This form of diabetes is observed among new-borns below six months of age. This differs from the two common types of diabetes as it is an autoimmune condition. The child with this condition has low insulin production and shows delayed development due to the weakening of their muscles and learning difficulties. Some new-borns even have epilepsy.

This is a rare phenomenon that is segregated into two broad categories, as described below.

1. Transient Neonatal Diabetes

This, as the name goes, does not last for a lifetime. This condition generally fades as the new-born grows. In most cases, the condition subsides before the child turns 1 year old.

2. Permanent Neonatal Diabetes

This is more of a permanent condition where new-borns have to manage diabetes throughout their lives.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

This condition is similar to both type 1 and 2 diabetes in various ways; hence, it is also called 1.5 diabetes. This does not have crisp evidence on how it varies from the two main types of diabetes, but it induces symptoms similar to both those of type 1 and 2 diabetes, like excessive urination, frequent urge to have water, fatigue, and weight loss. This is generally seen among adults between 30 and 50 years. Besides, this is treated with metformin initially, and later on, insulin is administered to the patients with this condition.

Type 3C Diabetes

This condition is not recognised as a medical issue. This is a condition where a person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes ultimately develops Alzheimer’s. Several researchers are working on this condition to find the link between type 3C diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. This can also elevate problems like pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, haemochromatosis, and cystic fibrosis. Type 3C diabetes elicits symptoms like stomach aches, oily stool, fatigue, weight loss, diarrhoea, and hypoglycaemia.

Steroid-Induced Diabetes

The administration of corticosteroids can lead to the elevation of blood glucose levels in patients with cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and some cancer types. Different steroids elevate blood glucose levels in various ways. Some cause your liver to release high amounts of sugar, while some reduce the body’s sensitivity towards insulin. Besides, some steroids cease glucose absorption from the blood by fat and muscle cells. This condition is mostly not permanent; the condition fades when we stop taking steroids.

Syndromes Associated with Diabetes

Many conditions have diabetes associated with them which are described further.

• Wolfram Syndrome :Also known as DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness), Wolfram syndrome is a rarely occurring genetic disorder. This is not an autoimmune condition but is a metabolic disease indicated by high glucose levels. Patients with Wolfram syndrome have a combination of optic atrophy, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, deafness, neurological problems, renal issues, and chronic fatigue.
• Alstrom Syndrome: Like many diabetes types, this, too, is an inherited condition. Patients with Alstrom syndrome suffer from renal degeneration, cardiomyopathy, hearing loss, obesity, renal failure, rheumatology issues, and orthopaedic problems. They have type 2 diabetes as children, as indicated by insulin resistance. This condition has no cure, but the symptoms can be managed by using various measures and treatments.

Medicines like sulphonylurea, metformin, and insulin are used to keep this type of diabetes in check. On the other hand, kidney issues are controlled with various medicines, but if the condition deteriorates, the patient might need kidney transplantation or dialysis. Light sensitivity is controlled by using dark glasses. Exercise, stretches, and massages are known to have effectively reduced associated joint and bone pains in few cases.

Diabetes Prevention Measures

Type 1 diabetes is caused by genes, so keeping it under control is difficult; by contrast, type 2 can be prevented by following certain measures, such as:

• Keeping your body weight under control helps decrease the chances of type 2 diabetes. If you are obese, it increases your chance of developing type 2 diabetes in manifolds.
• Be active whenever possible as it regulates your metabolism and uses up food to convert into energy, decreasing the chances of diabetes.
• Having a balanced diet can help you combat type 2 diabetes. Incorporate whole grains in your daily diet and reduce carbohydrate consumption. Include healthy fat and limit eating red meat; rather, have nuts and poultry, fish, and other lean meats.