Endocrine Research Society
Diabetes Education | Types of Diabetes
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone normally produced by the body's pancreas. It serves the function of getting glucose from the blood into the cells of the body, which will produce energy for the cells to perform its everyday function. When the body lacks insulin (type 1) or when the body's cells no longer respond the same to insulin in the blood (type 2), this will result in uncontrolled high blood sugars.
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Watch the video below to learn more about how insulin affects blood glucose.
Type 1 Diabetes
When the body lacks insulin due to damage, dysfunction or loss of insulin producing cells in the pancreas, they will develop type 1 diabetes. Individuals with type 1 diabetes will require insulin therapy in order to control their blood sugars.
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Watch the video below to learn more about type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, individuals have high blood glucose even though they produce insulin. Cells in the body do not respond to insulin properly, so glucose in the body is not transported into these cells. Controlling your blood sugars when you have type 2 diabetes requires a combination of diet, exercise, lifestyle, and medication.
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Watch the video below to learn more about type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is different a third type of diabetes. The demonstration of high blood sugars seen in type 1 and type 2 diabetes is still present; however, the cause of this hyperglycemia is as a result of hormones produced from the placenta. These hormones interfere with insulin.
To learn more about gestational diabetes, watch the video below.