Introduction > Classification

Classification of diabetes mellitus

1. Type 1 diabetes – characterized by destruction of insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (beta cells), usually leading to total lack of insulin. It occurs mainly in children and young adults but can affect adults as well. In the absence of insulin intake (by injection) ketoacidosis and death is the natural course of the disease.

• Autoimmunity – the immune system confounds insulin-producing cells (beta cells) of the pancreas with some foreign bodies (i.e. some microbes) and tries to fight against them. Unfortunately, almost always succeeds and the beta cells are destroyed.
• Idiopathic – idiopathic is a medical term which means unknown. I hope that in the future it will be used less often.

2. Type 2 diabetes – characterized by the presence of larger amounts of insulin than in normal subjects, but the body cannot use it for various reasons or by a smaller amount than normal, but without missing completely. It is the presence of this small amount of insulin that explains why ketoacidosis do not normally occur in this type of diabetes. Secreted insulin is not enough for blood sugar to pass into the cells and thus it accumulates in the blood (hyperglycemia), leading eventually to various destructions in the body.

3. Other specific types of diabetes - are types of diabetes in which the exact cause is known. Unfortunately, their proportion is now almost insignificant. I hope we can change this in the future because “knowing is to know the cause” (Aristotle).

• Genetic defects of pancreatic insulin producing cell (beta cell) function;
• Genetic defects of insulin action;
• Diseases of the entire pancreas (i.e. pancreatitis due to alcohol consumption);
• Endocrine diseases;
• Diabetes induced by drugs or chemicals
• Infections
• Rare forms produced by immunologic mechanisms
• Genetic syndromes sometimes associated with diabetes

4. Gestational diabetes - diabetes that is recognized for the first time during pregnancy.