Types of Diabetes Diagnosis:

There are three major types of diabetes, although 2 types are known to many people.

1. Type 2 diabetes is the most common
2. Type 1 diabetes
3. Gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy and is usually temporary.

It should be noted that even though people do not mention a forth diagnosis; Prediabetes is another important diagnosis which indicates an elevated risk of developing diabetes.

How much do you know about these Diabetes?

1. Type 1 Diabetes:

This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease which is a hormone dependent diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes are not able to produce this hormone or regulate their blood sugar because their body is attacking the pancreas. About 10 per cent of people living with diabetes have type 1, hormone-dependent diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes generally develops in childhood or adolescence but can also develop in adulthood. In most cases people need to inherit risk factors from both parents.

Research has found out that one environmental trigger for type 1 diabetes might be related to cold weather as it develops more often in winter than summer and is more common in places with cold climates. Therefore, some people think these factors must be more prevalent in white people because they have the highest rate of type 1 diabetes.

Another trigger might be viruses. It is possible that a virus that has only mild effects on most people triggers type 1 diabetes in others. Early diet may also play a role. For example, type 1 diabetes is said to be less common in people who were breastfed and in those who first ate solid foods at later ages.

In many people, the development of type 1 diabetes seems to take many years undetected. In experiments that follow relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, researchers have found that most of those who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies, or protein destroying bacteria or viruses (antibodies ‘gone bad’ that attacked the body’s own tissues), in their blood for years before they were diagnosed.

Inherited risk factors from both parents are the most cases of type 1 diabetics. Type 1 diabetes is most common in children or youth under 30, but more and more older people are being diagnosed as Type 1.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

There are no specific diabetes causes. What is known is that the immune system which would normally fight harmful bacteria or viruses attacks and destroys the hormone-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves little or none of the hormone, so sugar builds up in your bloodstream instead of being transported into the cells.

However, the following triggers may be involved:

• Viral or bacterial infection
• Chemical toxins within food
• Unidentified component causing autoimmune reaction, and
• Underlying genetic disposition

2. Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. With type 2 diabetes, the body is not able to utilize this hormone well and so cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels where it should get used for energy.

Type 2 develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more children, teens, and young adults are now being diagnosed). It may be difficult to notice any symptoms of the type 2 diabetes, so it is crucial to get your blood sugar tested if you are considered an ‘at risk Type 2 diabetes candidate’.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors including obesity, ethnic background, a family history of type 2 diabetes(hereditary) and other environmental factors. Diabetes type 2 is often called a lifestyle disease, so you are more likely to develop it if you are not physically active and are overweight or obese.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health problems. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen, and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life too. Between three and 20 per cent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, depending on their risk factors.