Diabetes originally referred to a single condition characterized by “sweet urine,” but it has since developed into two main types: type 1 and type 2. Today, we recognize various forms of diabetes. An article in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine from 2020 emphasizes the significance of understanding your specific type of diabetes. This knowledge is crucial, as it helps tailor treatment options that are most effective for you and your body.
The most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2, where type 2 is insulin resistance and type 1 is insulin dependence. Some of the features of each condition overlap, and some people have what is termed “Double Diabetes,” where someone with type 1 diabetes who needs insulin also has insulin resistance. Some other medications and conditions may lead to either insulin resistance or insulin dependence. Here is a chart with the most common types of diabetes.
One of the main challenges that we commonly see in the United States is adults getting misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes when they really have Type 1 diabetes. This can be dangerous and life-threatening. It is also more common to be misdiagnosed if you are in a minoritized group, especially as it relates to ethnicity and if you live in a larger body. This is often due to stereotyping and misinformation. Luckily, it is getting easier for people to get screened for diabetes, which will likely show if you have insulin-dependent diabetes or if your body is still making insulin. Another way to confirm if your body is making insulin is by measuring something called C-Peptide.
We are learning more about diabetes all the time, and there are many other less common subtypes that may not exactly fit into one of the boxes. If your diabetes seems to defy the categories medicine uses, you may want to find a research team working on diabetes sub-classification. Who knows, there may be a different treatment that will make your life easier. Participating in research is critical to moving medicine forward. Check out our page, on actively recruiting diabetes studies.
Written and clinically reviewed by Marissa Town, RN, BSN, CDCES
