Diabetes isn't just diabetes. There are several types of diabetes mellitus.

There are three types of diabetes mellitus to discuss. Type 1 (formerly known as juvenile diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults. In Type 1 diabetes mellitus the body does not produce enough insulin, which is a hormone that is needed to convert sugars and starches and other foods into energy. This type of diabetes mellitus affects approximately 5-10% of the diabetic community. Insulin therapy is used in treating this disease.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, also known as adult onset diabetes, is the more common form of diabetes and affects millions of Americans. This diabetes mellitus type is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians as well as the older community.

Type 2 diabetes suffers bodies either do not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin it does produce. In this case the insulin taken is used to utilize the glucose from food to avoid a build up of glucose in the system. This build up of glucose causes serious complications.

Gestational diabetes is when a pregnant woman, who has never had diabetes before, has a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 diabetes

Though the symptoms can be similar, these are different for specific reasons. Some symptoms could be frequent urination, be unusually thirsty, extremely hungry, have unusual weight loss and show extreme fatigue and irritability, frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts and or bruises that are very slow to heal, may experience a tingling and or numbness in the hands and or feet and have some recurring skin, gum and or bladder infections.

Determining existence of diabetes mellitus in a patient requires a blood test following a fast. If it is determined that diabetes is present most likely course of treatment will be diet change and insulin. Most people who are treated early, before the onset of sever complications such as heart disease, can live a normal and happy life. It does take work on the part of the patient to become accustomed to the lifestyle adjustments required to make life a normal one.