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Type 1 ("insulin-dependent", previously referred to as "juvenile diabetes"). Patients diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes have a malfunctioning pancreas. The pancreas is the organ responsible for creating insulin, and when it ceases to function correctly, the result is Type 1 diabetes. This form of diabetes is most commonly seen in children and young adults. Doctors generally treat Type 1 diabetes with daily shots of insulin.
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Type 2 ("noninsulin-dependent", also sometimes referred to as "adult-onset diabetes"). Patients with Type 2 diabetes have cells that are resistant to insulin. This is by far the most common type of diabetes, and is prevalent in adults, although it’s beginning to be seen in children as young as 5 years old. |
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Gestational (pregnancy-related). A small percentage (approximately 3 to 5 percent) of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes during the third trimester. Gestational diabetes resolves itself within a few months after birth. Importantly, however, the mother is at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life after contracting Gestational diabetes. |
Symptoms Associated with Diabetes
Diabetes is often referred to as “the Silent Killer”. This is due to the fact that symptoms tend to develop gradually- there’s no sudden event announcing that the patient has diabetes. Indeed, some people with diabetes don’t exhibit a single symptom for years. The following are symptoms associated with diabetes.
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