Types of diabetes.. How do they differ and which are the most common?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Diabetes is a health condition caused by the presence of too much sugar in the blood. A diabetic patient has difficulty converting glucose (a type of sugar) into energy, which may lead to high blood sugar levels. Blood glucose levels are usually controlled by a hormone called insulin.

The Australian “healthdirect” website indicated that diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce a sufficient amount of insulin, or when the body is unable to use insulin due to its resistance to it. Diabetes occurs when the blood glucose level, also called blood sugar, is too high.

Blood glucose is the main source of energy, and comes mainly from the food a person eats. According to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website, insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, helps glucose in the blood reach cells to be used for energy.

The hormone glucagon works with insulin to control blood glucose levels. It is the most common type of diabetes and occurs when the blood glucose level is so high that the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it well.

Too much glucose remains in the blood, and not enough reaches the body's cells. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, which is considered unhealthy for both mother and baby.

Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed in weeks 24 to 28 of pregnancy, and the health of the mother and baby can be protected by taking the necessary measures immediately in the event of high blood glucose levels to control them. Prediabetes indicates that blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Prediabetes usually occurs in people who already have some insulin resistance or whose pancreatic beta cells do not produce enough insulin to maintain blood glucose in the normal range. Without enough insulin, excess glucose remains in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells.

Over time, prediabetes can turn into type 2 diabetes.