Types of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which a person has high blood glucose, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

There are types of diabetes.

1.) Type 1 results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes".

2.) Type 2 results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 90% of all cases of diabetes.Several risk factors have been associated with type 2 diabetes and include; obesity, diet and physical inactivity, increasing age, insulin resistance, family history of diabetes and ethnicity.

See this 1.24 minutes video explanation on active fat causing type 2 diabetes

2.29 minutes video explanation on how type 2 diabetes develops

3.) Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.

4.) Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition is sometimes called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it.


People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes.

Studies have shown that most people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight—about 10 to 15 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds—by making changes in their diet and level of physical activity. People with prediabetes also are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.