When the body does not produce enough – or any – insulin, the body has a condition known as diabetes. The insulin hormone is necessary because it is used to regulate your blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels.

A doctor can perform an examination to determine if you have diabetes. After your doctor has used the regular exam to test your blood sugar level, further testing will be necessary before a diagnosis is made. This testing will help the physician learn what type of diabetes you are suffering from, and what treatment options are available for you.

Common Types of Diabetes

There are various types of diabetes that you could suffer from; however, the 3 common types of diabetes include: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Younger people are more likely to get Type 1 diabetes. Your body will not be able to produce insulin if you have Type 1. If your family has a history of Type 1 diabetes, you can be predisposed. This type of diabetes was once referred to as “juvenile diabetes.” According to WebMD, 70 percent of Type 1 diabetics are diagnosed with the medical condition before they reach the age of 70.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin, and it is unable to properly use the insulin that it produces. African-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics are more likely to suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Children and adults can be diagnosed with this condition, even though it was once referred to as “adult onset diabetes.”

Gestational diabetes can occur during your pregnancy if you have high blood glucose levels. If you have never had diabetes, you can still suffer from gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes can reoccur if you become pregnant again. If you do not treat gestational diabetes, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about diabetes statistics, click here.

Other Types of Diabetes

If your blood glucose levels are abnormal, but not low enough to be diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you have what is known as Pre-diabetes. If you do not take the necessary prevention methods it can lead to Type 2 diabetes. Remember that you can still suffer from some of the same body damage, even if you are never diagnosed with full-blown diabetes.

A newly discovered type of diabetes is Type 3. This condition occurs when the insulin in the brain has stopped, or it has been reduced. As a result, your brain cells will deteriorate and stop functioning. Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to Type 3 diabetes. This type of diabetes originates in the central nervous system, unlike Type 1 and 2.

Other types of diabetes are:

• Chemically Induced Diabetes
• Surgically Induced Diabetes
• Type 1.5 Diabetes, often referred to as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

Consult with a Physician

You should consult with a physician to receive treatment or reversal information. For instance, if you are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the condition can be reversed by living a healthy lifestyle. If you would like to read more information about lifestyle changes, please click here.

Reference

“Diabetes- Living with Diabetes.” Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/types-of-diabetes/MY02398. Accessed on August 26, 2013.

“Diabetes Health Center.” WebMD. Retrieved from http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes_living_managing. Accessed on August 26, 2013.

“Type 3 Diabetes.” Diabetes.Co.Uk. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.co.uk/type3-diabetes.html. Accessed on August 26, 2013.