Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is characterized by difficulties with processing glucose, causing an elevation in blood sugar and an assortment of other health problems. There are three main types of diabetes: gestational diabetes, type I diabetes, and type II diabetes. Treatment plans for the various types are very different, although they share many commonalities in terms of symptoms and potential risks.

Type I diabetes is also sometimes called “insulin-dependent diabetes.” It is an auto-immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the cells which normally generate insulin, a compound necessary for digesting glucose. Patients with type I diabetes must take supplemental insulin and monitor their blood sugar levels carefully to treat the disease; some lifestyle recommendations may be made as well to make patients more healthy in general. Around 10-15% of diabetics have this type of diabetes.

Type II diabetes is characterized by a development of insulin resistance, meaning that the body suddenly needs more insulin to process glucose than it can produce. It can be caused by genetic and lifestyle factors; being overweight, for example, can put people at risk of developing type II diabetes. This condition can be treated with lifestyle changes and sometimes with the assistance of medications as well.

As you might imagine, gestational diabetes arises in pregnant mothers. It is usually quickly diagnosed because doctors regularly check the blood sugar levels of their patients. This form of diabetes usually resolves with the birth of the child, but some steps can be taken to treat it, reducing the potential risk to the fetus. Gestational diabetes can cause health problems for the child later in life, and problems with the pregnancy, but it is not a cause for alarm if it is quickly caught and addressed.

Another condition, called diabetes insipidus, affects the kidneys. This condition has nothing to do with insulin, but it shares the symptom of increased urine production with diabetes, which is why it has “diabetes” in its name. Patients with this condition produce extremely dilute urine in high volume, no matter how much they drink, and it is typically treated with antidiuretic hormones and diet.

Diabetes has become a very manageable condition, for patients who catch it early and stick with their treatment plans. It is very important to receive regular checkups and follow medical advice when you have diabetes, as the complications of this disease can be quite serious.