There are several types and types of diabetes mellitus, each of which has its own characteristics and differences.
Along with the well-known names of the types of diabetes mellitus (type 1 and 2), other types of the disease can often be found, which are often puzzling. For example, it is not entirely clear what gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy or lada diabetes is. So what other types and types of diabetes are there?
main types
Most often, in the formulation of the diagnosis, the concepts of "type 1 diabetes" or "type 2 diabetes" can be found. It is this classification that determines the disease based on the body's need for insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the destruction of specialized pancreatic beta cells responsible for insulin production. This most often happens when a person is exposed to a viral infection, as a result of which the immune system begins to produce "aggressors" of the cells of the glands, which destroy them. As a result, a deficiency of insulin occurs in the blood. Since cells cannot absorb glucose from the blood without such an important hormone as insulin, they literally starve to death as they "float" toward glucose.
If insulin is introduced into the body from the outside, the cells will "joyfully" begin to consume glucose, while the sugar level will normalize. Therefore, type 1 disease is also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
When the term "non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus" is mentioned, it refers to type 2 diabetes. Its pathogenesis is based on two fundamental points:
- beta cell pathology;
- violation of insulin susceptibility by insulin-dependent cells of the body.
This condition develops more frequently in obese people, since obesity leads to the formation of resistance cells (immunity) to the action of insulin. In addition to obesity, glucose absorption is affected by smoking, lack of physical activity, and the use of certain drugs.
type 3 diabetes
There is type 3 diabetes, which combines signs of types 1 and 2. Namely, the accumulation of fatty tissue in the liver (as in type 2 diabetes) and insulin deficiency (as in type 1 diabetes). In life, type 2 diabetes that responds positively to insulin therapy is type 3. But this type is not recognized by the health organization, so all cases are divided into types 1 and 2.
This disease is not rare. The reason is considered to be an increase in the absorption of iodine in the intestine as a result of its various pathologies. This leads to thyrotoxic type 2 diabetes with a complex pathogenesis. Treatment with it should be fundamentally different from standard therapy.
hidden form
Latent diabetes mellitus is a condition in which glucose from food is slowly absorbed, but insulin production remains at the proper or elevated level. Clinically latent diabetes does not appear. This form precedes type 2 diabetes. It should be said that the hidden variant of diabetes is prediabetes, at this stage it is still possible to influence the state of carbohydrate metabolism.
Latent diabetes can occur for a long time (up to several years). To recognize it in time, blood glucose should be checked frequently, which is especially important for people with predisposing factors (obesity, hypertension and the use of diuretic drugs that reduce potassium levels, polycystic ovary syndrome).
If latent diabetes mellitus is detected in a timely manner, following simple prevention rules, then this form will never turn into type 2 diabetes. To avoid this, you need to increase physical activity, follow a diet, monitor blood glucose.
labile and stable
You may also find wording such as "stable and labile diabetes. "That is what they say about both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Under these terms, the clinical course of the disease is understood.
Labile diabetes is characterized by a rather severe and unpredictable course. Dramatically changes the level of sugar in the blood during the day, which does not allow you to choose the optimal dose of insulin. With this form, acute and late complications occur more often: ketoacidosis, disorders of the kidneys, the organ of vision. The labile form is characteristic of adolescence.
The stable form is characterized by a smooth course without sudden drops in sugar, milder symptoms, and a low level of hyperglycemia.
gestational
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestation, or in lat. gestation is pregnancy. The causes of this type of disease have not been reliably established, but the hormones produced by the placenta and the body of the expectant mother cause physiological resistance to insulin. There are certain factors that lead to the development of gestational diabetes. These include:
- late pregnancy;
- familial diabetes;
- of smoking;
- obesity;
- stillbirth in previous pregnancies.
If a woman follows the doctor's instructions, regularly takes tests, then such an unpleasant disease can be avoided. If diabetes has developed, appropriate insulin therapy and hospitalization are prescribed. The patient is monitored by an obstetrician-gynecologist, endocrinologist, internist, ophthalmologist, neurologist. After childbirth, as a rule, carbohydrate metabolism returns to normal.
It is important to note that gestational diabetes can continue to exist after delivery. This diagnosis is valid for 2 months after birth. During this period, a woman should continue treatment, but with an adjustment in insulin doses, which is calculated by the attending physician or endocrinologist. 2 months after childbirth, a woman undergoes a stress test, which will indicate whether there is a violation of carbohydrate metabolism. If hyperglycemia is observed, the diagnosis is corrected and appropriate treatment is prescribed.
diabetes lada
Latent diabetes mellitus, or lada diabetes, is rarely diagnosed due to its latent course. Lada diabetes has characteristics in relation to other forms.
- Laboratory tests do not reveal this form. The glucose level on an empty stomach is often not elevated.
- The first symptoms of the disease appear after the age of 25.
- Pregnancy, stress, infectious diseases, rapid weight gain due to adipose tissue can cause clinical signs.
- Lada diabetes most often occurs in people without obesity.
- The symptoms are similar to those of type 2 diabetes, but in a more subtle way.
- Type 1 diabetes markers can be detected in the patient's blood.
- Lada's diabetes is controlled by diet and taking hypoglycemic medications.
To determine lada diabetes, specific tests are carried out, which will be discussed in an article dedicated specifically to this condition.
diabetes mod
Moderate diabetes mellitus can rarely be recognized, it is associated with a mutation of certain genes (there are 8 of them). These genes are responsible for the normal structure of insulin or the optimal development of beta cells. Mody's diabetes is characterized by being poorly progressive and developing in young people (most often children, adolescents).
Among all patients with diabetes, mode diabetes accounts for 2-5% of cases, but the development of the gestational type is associated precisely with genetic mutations. Reliably diagnosing diabetes mody is only possible with the help of molecular genetic research.
Characteristics of the flow of this form:
- occurs in children
- sometimes there is an increase in glucose up to 8 mmol / l;
- no obesity;
- no insulin resistance;
- SD is available in two generations;
- The course is similar to that of type 2 diabetes.
steroid diabetes
Steroid diabetes develops with prolonged use of corticosteroid-based drugs or with hypercortisolism (syndrome or disease, Itsenko-Cushing). Adrenal hormones have a detrimental effect on the beta cells of the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency.
Steroid diabetes mellitus is an insulin-dependent condition. But its clinical course includes some features of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition, there is a violation of the work of other organs as a result of the action of corticosteroids. This diabetes is treated as type 2 diabetes.
Pancreatic
Pancreatic DM is a secondary disease. It develops in response to the destruction of the pancreas in pancreatitis, stones in the gallbladder and ducts, after operations on the gland. All of these factors lead to a decrease in active beta cells and insulin deficiency. It proceeds like type 1 diabetes.
Other secondary forms
Adrenal, pituitary and thyroid diabetes occurs against the background of an excessive amount of certain hormones in the blood, which leads to the destruction of insulin-producing cells. The clinic is similar to type 1 diabetes with symptoms of damage to other organs and tissues.