Different Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is one of those infamous diseases. You probably have diabetes or know someone who has it. According to the CDC, about 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, and about 1 in 3 Americans has prediabetes.

There are so many types, though, some less known than others. There is diabetes mellitus, which has the most numerous types and is the most common one. Then there is diabetes insipidus.

Have you heard of diabetes insipidus?

Diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus are unrelated, so why are they both called diabetes? Because they increase thirst, which leads to increased intake of fluids and causes frequent urination. But that’s where the similarity ends.

Our focus is on the different types of diabetes mellitus (DM). But first, what is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease of metabolism characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. In other words, it’s a disease that’s continuous, cannot be cured but can be managed, and it increases one’s sugar (blood glucose) level.

There are some misconceptions about diabetes mellitus, which we’ll be addressing in other articles in this series. But for now, the types of diabetes mellitus...

There are different types of diabetes mellitus, but the most common ones include:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Prediabetes
• Gestational diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the beta cells in your pancreas, which produce insulin, causing glucose to accumulate in your bloodstream. It was formerly called juvenile diabetes because it mostly affects children and young adults; however, it can affect anyone of any age, so that name is incorrect.

Insulin is a hormone that allows your body’s cells and tissues to utilize glucose and reduces blood glucose levels. The problem with glucose being high depends on what part of your body it’s high in. If it’s in your bloodstream, that’s a problem, but if it’s in your cells and tissues, the glucose is used as energy, and it’s not a problem.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Here, your pancreas produces insulin, but not enough. It can also be due to your cells not responding properly to insulin (this is known as insulin resistance). If your cells are resistant to insulin, glucose accumulates in your blood. It was formerly called adult-onset diabetes because it mostly affects adults, but it can affect children too.

Prediabetes occurs before type 2 diabetes. It means that your sugar level is high—higher than the normal range but not high enough to be called type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes, if managed properly, can go back to the normal range. If it isn’t managed, it will eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. If you had diabetes before pregnancy but only noticed it during pregnancy, it’s not gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs due to pregnancy. During pregnancy, pregnancy hormones may affect the way insulin works, which interferes with its functions. It must be managed properly so it doesn’t affect the mother or fetus.

There’s an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life if you have gestational diabetes. Also, gestational diabetes usually goes away soon after pregnancy.

Diabetes mellitus, though it doesn’t have a cure, can be managed. There are oral and injectable treatments for it, as well as lifestyle changes that help in its management. So, do not panic; there’s beautiful progress in healthcare to help you.

Later in the diabetes series, we’ll also be looking at its management, including lifestyle changes.