Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes (diabetes only during pregnancy) are the three types of diabetes. Type 2 is the most common. About 23.6 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most (about 95 percent) have type 2 diabetes. Millions of people in the U.S. have prediabetes, or blood levels just short of a diabetes diagnosis.
Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin resistance causes type 2 diabetes. The body can't use all the insulin it produces. Most people with type 2 take oral medication and check their blood sugar level daily. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Often weight loss and exercise can make the diabetes go away; however, some elderly people have type 2 diabetes and aren't overweight . Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar, nor do all obese people develop diabetes. Almost always, there's a family history.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in youth or early adulthood and continues through life. About 177,000 people under age 20 have type 1 diabetes. The pancreas can't produce any insulin and the person must inject insulin daily. As with type 2 diabetes, regular blood checks are important because glucose levels can go too high or low. If glucose levels drop too low, the person needs to eat fruit or an item high in sugar.
Gestational Diabetes
Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy, apparently because of hormonal changes. Women with gestational diabetes often need insulin and must be careful with their diet. The diabetes often resolves upon delivery, but many may develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Native American, African-American and Hispanic women have a greater risk for gestational diabetes than whites or Asians.
Prediabetes
According to the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine," 30 percent of adults in the U.S. have prediabetes--blood sugar higher than normal--yet only about 7 percent know they have it. If they don't lose weight, exercise and change their diet, they'll develop type 2 diabetes.
