What are the Different Types of Diabetes – Signs & Symptoms

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. It is caused either due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body cells not responding properly to the insulin produced. As we all know, excess intake of sugar can cause diabetes and it is one of the most harmful diseases caused by sugar. The World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 every year to raise awareness about the disease.

The different types of diabetes are –

  1. Type 1 Diabetes is caused because of pancreatic failure to produce enough insulin.
  2. Type 2 Diabetes begins with insulin resistance. It is a condition where body’s cells fail to respond to insulin properly.
  3. Type 3 Diabetes, also called as Gestational Diabetes mellitus occurs when pregnant women without previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar level.

Different Types of Diabetes mellitus, Insipidus Chart

Signs and Symptoms

Many wonder about what are the first signs of diabetes to detect whether they are suffering from it because it is quite important to know about the early signs of diabetes and to recognize the symptoms of Diabetes correctly.

  • The first signs of diabetes can be identified by weight loss, an increase in urination, thirst, and even hunger. But these symptoms usually develop slowly and can be absent in Type 2 Diabetes.
  • Several other signs and symptoms in addition to the above ones include blurry vision, headache, fatigue, slow healing of cuts and itchy skin.

Diabetes Categorization – A Complete Guide

There are three major types of Diabetes with varying symptoms, effects and treatment methods. The two types of diabetes along with gestational diabetes mellitus (Type 3) are explained in detail below so that you have a sufficient knowledge about all of them.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes results from the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. This type of diabetes is due to loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency. It can be further classified as immune-mediated or idiopathic. Most affected people are quite healthy when the first symptoms occur.

Type 1 Diabetes can affect both children and adults equally. It was traditionally called as “juvenile diabetes” because the majority of Type 1 Diabetes were found only in children. Signs of juvenile diabetes must be tracked and immediately acted upon for cure. These are some of the most prevalent diabetes symptoms in children.

One should know about symptoms of diabetes in children to take preventive measures before it strikes. Type 1 Diabetes can be accompanied by irregular and unpredictable high blood sugar levels, frequently with ketosis and sometimes low sugar levels. It is basically incurable but insulin injections will help in survival.

Signs of Type 1 Diabetes: Increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue and blurred vision.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, a condition where body cells fail to respond to insulin properly. The insulin receptor is believed to be involved in defective responsiveness of body tissue to insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is said to be the most common type of Diabetes mellitus. Major causes of Type 2 Diabetes are lifestyle factors and usually genetics. Obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, and urbanization are known to be the developing factors for Type 2 Diabetes.

Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and saturated fats are responsible for this type of diabetes. Cutting down on white rice can also help in the prevention. The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes is that former one can occur at a young age whereas the latter one can strike in adulthood, the first signs start to develop mostly after the age 30.

Signs of Type 2 Diabetes: Excessive hunger, fatigue, or increased thirst, blurred vision, frequent urination, poor wound healing, or weight gain

Type 3 Diabetes

Type 3 Diabetes, also called as Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) is when a woman without any history of diabetes develops high blood sugar level during pregnancy. Type 3 Diabetes occurs to 2-10% of pregnant women and may improve or disappear after delivery. Gestational Diabetes mellitus is fully treatable but it requires careful medical treatment and supervision throughout the tenure of pregnancy. If left untreated, it can cause severe and even fatal consequences.

Born babies to mother with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of being overweight, low blood sugar levels and jaundice. It can also result in stillbirth at times. In the long run, born babies can develop Type 2 Diabetes as well. Gestational Diabetes mellitus is majorly caused by insufficient insulin in setting insulin resistance. Type 3 Diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a healthy diet and regular moderate exercise.

Signs of Type 3 Diabetes: Memory loss, dementia, and confusion. There may be no symptoms at early stages but the causes of diabetes for this type can be devastating.

Uncommon Types of Diabetes

Along with these 3 types, there are various other types of diabetes as well.

  • Prediabetes indicates a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but is not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.
  • Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) is a condition in which Type 1 Diabetes develops in adults. Some cases of diabetes are also noted where body’s tissue receptors do not respond to insulin even when insulin levels are normal, which is what separates it from Type 2 Diabetes. This form of diabetes is quite uncommon.
  • Different forms of Diabetes mellitus also includes Congenital Diabetes, which is due to genetic defects of insulin secretion, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid diabetes induced by high doses of glucocorticoids, and some forms of monogenic diabetes.
  • A Type 4 Diabetes is proposed which has not received an official status yet.

One should know all about diabetes and even the major diabetes signs which will help in taking preventive measures in future.