|
There
are two main types of diabetes, Type I and Type II:
Type I diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes (formerly
called juvenile-onset diabetes, because it tends to effect
persons before the age of 20) affects about 10 percent of
people with diabetes. With this type of diabetes, the pancreas
makes almost no insulin.
Type II diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes
(formerly called adult-onset diabetes, because it is usually
discovered after age 40) affects about 90 percent of the people
with diabetes. With this type of diabetes, either the pancreas
produces a reduced amount of insulin, the cells do not respond
to the insulin, or both.
There are three less common types of diabetes called gestational
diabetes, secondary diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance
(IGT):
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and causes
a higher than normal glucose level reading.
Secondary diabetes is caused by damage to the pancreas
from chemicals, certain medications, diseases of the pancreas
(such as cancer) or other glands.
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a condition in
which the person's glucose levels are higher than normal.
|
