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Accounts for about 5% of diabetes cases.
T1DM usually affects children, but may occur in early decades of
adult life. It is characterized by sudden onset and presence of
classical symptoms of polyuria (increased frequency of
urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased
appetite/hunger) and weight loss. This type has been earlier
described as Insulin Dependent Diabetes as these patients need
insulin therapy for survival as negligible or no insulin is
produced by the beta cells of pancreas in the body |
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Accounts for more than 90% of diabetes
cases and usually affects patients above the age of 40 years ,
but with the increasing prevalence of overweight, we are seeing
more and more individuals developing T2DM at earlier age. This
type of diabetes is characterized by a state of relative insulin
deficiency developing over a background of insulin resistance
(or inefficient action). Since these patients have some amount
of beta cells secreting insulin, they can be treated with drugs
that reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin secretion
from beta cells of pancreas. Hence, these patients were earlier
classified as Non insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) as they do
not need insulin to given from outside for survival and for
control of their diabetes, at least in the initial stages of
their disease. The T2DM is characterized by a gradual onset and
the symptoms are usually not marked and appear over a long
period of time, or even may be absent. Usually blood sugar
(glucose) can be controlled by diet, regular exercise, weight
control and oral glucose lowering drugs. However, in a large
number of cases, especially in those with long standing T2DM,
additional insulin injections may also be required. |
