TYPE 1 DIABETES is an autoimmune disease, affecting less than one in five diabetics. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the body’s insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, thus significantly reducing the overall production of insulin. A person with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

TYPE 2 DIABETES affects between 90 and 95 percent of diabetics over age 20. It occurs when the body is resistant to the effects of insulin, or the pancreas produces some, but not enough, of the insulin required to maintain a normal glucose level. This form of the disease is often associated with the elderly or overweight, or those with a family history of diabetes. Diet, exercise and weight-loss play strong roles in controlling type 2 diabetes, often in conjunction with oral medications or insulin injections.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES is a temporary form of diabetes, affecting some women when the hormonal changes of pregnancy lead to insulin resistance. It is most often found in African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 10 years, and should be monitored accordingly.

MATURITY ONSET DIABETES OF THE YOUNG (MODY) is a rare type of diabetes that develops in people with specific genes that cause a defect in the working of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to overproduction of insulin.

Because diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease with widespread effects throughout the body, it is recommended that diabetics consult with their physicians on a regular basis.

To read more, click:
Advanced Treatment

The Facts
What is Diabetes?
Risk Factors
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Complications
Prevention
Weight-Loss Programs