OVERVIEW

What are the types of diabetes?

According to the 1999 WHO classification criteria, diabetes can be divided into four types based on different causes:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Other types of diabetes
• Gestational diabetes

SYMPTOMS

What are the characteristics of type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is associated with the destruction of pancreatic beta cells and an absolute lack of insulin. What specifically causes beta cell destruction? It may be due to an autoimmune reaction or an unknown cause.

Due to the absolute lack of insulin, patients with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy to control blood sugar.

What are the characteristics of type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is related to insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, which may be caused by genetics, obesity, or an unhealthy lifestyle.

Patients with type 2 diabetes need to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise. If blood sugar control remains inadequate, oral hypoglycemic medications may be used, and some may also require insulin therapy.

What are the characteristics of other types of diabetes?

Other types of diabetes is a broad term encompassing many forms of diabetes.

Unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, other types have clear causes, such as genetic defects, pancreatic diseases, liver diseases, endocrine disorders, or medications.

What are the characteristics of gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes refers to elevated blood sugar levels during the mid-to-late stages of pregnancy. Blood sugar usually returns to normal after delivery, but the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life increases.

CAUSES

What are the causes of other types of diabetes?

The causes vary, including:

• Genetic defects: Inheriting defective genes from parents, leading to genetic defects in pancreatic beta-cell function, insulin action, or mitochondrial DNA. Examples include maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), type A insulin resistance, leprechaunism, lipoatrophic diabetes, and mitochondrial diabetes.

• Pancreatic diseases: Conditions affecting the pancreas can impair islet function, causing uncontrolled blood sugar elevation. Examples include pancreatitis, pancreatic trauma, and pancreatic tumors.

• Endocrine disorders: Such as Cushing's syndrome, glucagonoma, pheochromocytoma, acromegaly, and somatostatinoma.

• Medications: Including glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones, thiazides, phenytoin, and interferon-alpha.

• Infections: Such as congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus infection.

• Certain genetic syndromes: May be associated with diabetes, including Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, and porphyria.

DIAGNOSIS

None

TREATMENT

Can other types of diabetes be cured?

Some can, such as drug-induced diabetes. Blood sugar may return to normal completely after stopping the medication.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

None

PREVENTION

None