{"id":45455,"date":"2021-11-01T09:40:44","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T13:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=45455"},"modified":"2023-03-29T15:14:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T19:14:54","slug":"types-of-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/types-of-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"How many types of diabetes are there?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a chronic health condition that affects how your body uses food for energy. Your body isn\u2019t able to move sugar, or glucose, from your bloodstream into your cells, so you end up with a surplus in your bloodstream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Approximately 34.2 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s<\/span> 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report<\/span><\/a>. That represents 10.5% of the population. But not everyone has the same type of diabetes, which is why it\u2019s important to know the different types.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Diabetes statistics<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

4 types of diabetes<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are four main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and a condition known as prediabetes, in which you have higher-than-normal <\/span>blood glucose levels<\/span><\/a> but not quite high enough (yet) to qualify as Type 2 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

With all four, prompt diagnosis is critical\u2014and so is compliance with your diabetes treatment. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels and raise your risk of developing certain health problems (some life-threatening), so it\u2019s important to begin treatment\u2014and stick with it faithfully\u2014as soon as you get diagnosed.<\/span><\/p>\n

But don\u2019t despair. Regardless of what form of diabetes you might have, you can live a very full, healthy life. Adopting and embracing positive behavioral changes can not only lead to effective diabetes management, but it will also help you live a healthier life overall, says Lucille Hughes, DNP, the director of diabetes education for Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Compare common types of diabetes <\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<\/td>\nPrevalence<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nDefinition<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nRisk factors<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nTreatment<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type 1 diabetes<\/span><\/td>\n5%-10% of 34.2 million Americans who have diabetes<\/span><\/td>\nPancreas does not make any insulin or not enough insulin to move sugar out of bloodstream and into cells<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Having a close relative with Type 1 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Insulin therapy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/td>\n90%-95% of 34.2 million<\/span><\/td>\nHaving high blood sugar levels that average out to be 6.5% or greater as measured by an A1C test or fasting blood glucose level 126 or greater<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Being overweight or having obesity\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Leading a sedentary lifestyle<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Being over 45 years of age<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Having a family history of Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Having a history of smoking<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Being in certain racial\/ethnic groups<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Having PCOS<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Having high cholesterol<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Having high blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Lifestyle changes to improve diet and increase exercise<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Weight loss<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Insulin therapy<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Metformin or other medications<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prediabetes<\/span><\/td>\n88 million<\/span><\/td>\nHaving elevated blood sugar levels (A1c between 5.7% and 6.4% or fasting blood glucose level 100-125) that are higher than normal but not quite high enough to be Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/td>\nSame as Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/td>\nPositive lifestyle changes to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, such as increased physical activity<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gestational diabetes<\/span><\/td>\n5%-10% of pregnancies each year<\/span><\/td>\nElevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Having a family history of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Being 25 or older<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Being overweight before pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Being certain racial\/ethnic groups<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n