Question

• What are the different types of diabetes and how do they differ from each other?

Answer 1

Answer

There two primary types of diabetes mellitus :

1) Type I diabetes mellitus

• This is genetically inherited diabetes mellitus.
• Beta cells in the pancreas do not secerte enough insulin. Due to this, glucose is not converted into glycogen and it remains into the blood. As a result blood glucose levels increase.
• It is common in the age group of below 40 years.

2) Type 2 diabetes mellitus

• This condition is a result of sedentary lifestyle, obesity.
• In type II diabetes mellitus, beta cells in pancrease produce adequate amount of insulin, but this insulin cannot bind to its receptors. As a result, glucose transporters cannot transport glucose into the cells.
• It is common in the age group of above 40 years.

Other types of diabetes mellitus inlcudes :

3) Gestational diabetes mellitus

• Certains hormones released during pregnancy such as estrogen, human placental lactogen blocks insulin from binding to its receptor.
• Usually, soon after delivery of the baby, gestational diabetes goes away.

4) Maturity onset diabetes of the young

• This is also an inherited type of diabetes mellitus.
• A perticular gene (HNF) is mutated in this condition.
• As a result, insulin production from beta cells is impaired, increasing the blood glucose levels.