33^rd European Diabetes Congress

Diabetes and Types of Diabetes

Diabetes refers to a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood.

Types of diabetes are

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Pre-diabetes and
• Gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as Juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. It is due to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells responsible for insulin production, typically leading to a lack of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is Adult onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes the cells in the body fail to take up the free glucose circulating in the blood due to insulin resistance leading to abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is caused by pregnancy and is often diagnosed in middle or late pregnancy.