What is Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce adequate amount of insulin or when the body cannot process the insulin properly.

Types of Diabetes:

There are several types of Diabetes but the most common types of Diabetes that we encounter are:

Type 1 Diabetes – Is an autoimmune Disease mainly found in children. Persons with Type 1 Diabetes are insulin dependent whose body doesn’t produce insulin. Some people develop it in they adulthood. This type of Diabetics may use insulin via insulin pumps or injections to control their diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – This is where the body doesn’t process the insulin produced by their bodies properly, and is usually developed in adulthood even though it can be developed in childhood. Some patients use insulin therapy along with oral medications, oral medications or diet and exercise.

Gestational Diabetes – Usually develops after twenty-eight (28) weeks of gestation in the second (2nd) or third (3rd) trimester of pregnancy. In some cases, it requires insulin therapy, diet and exercise or oral medications. It usually goes away after delivery but can develop into Type 2 Diabetes, some three (3) to five (5) years later.

Some of the other types of Diabetes that we can see are :

Pre-Diabetes – this occurs when the blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes.

MODY – Maturity Onset Diabetes

LADA – Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood

Neonatal Diabetes – is a rare form of diabetes which is diagnosed in babies under the age of nine (9) months and is not like Type 1 Diabetes which is an autoimmune disease.

Drug Induced Diabetes – This is Diabetes caused by medication used over a prolonged period.

Steroids Inducted Diabetes – As the name suggested is caused by steroid medication used to treat some illnesses.

Brittle/ Labile Diabetes – Is a rare form of Diabetes and usually occurs in young adults and is hard to treat or control especially as patient has severe blood sugar swings with either high or low blood sugar levels.

Cystic Fibrosis Diabetes – This type of Diabetes is common in patients who has Cystic Fibrosis and carries the features of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.