1.Type 1 diabetes: Previously known as insulin-dependent (IDDM), juvenile or childhood-onset. Type 1 is characterized by pancreatic beta cell destruction. Insulin is not longer produced and the patient is required to be on insulin.

2.Type 2 diabetes: Previously called non-insulin-dependent (NIDM) or adult-onset, results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes comprises 90% of people with diabetes around the world, and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. Type 2 in children is becoming an issue in management.

3. Gestational diabetes (GDM): is hyperglycemia with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Symptoms of gestational diabetes are similar to Type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is most often diagnosed through prenatal screening, rather than reported symptoms.

4.Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Aging (Type 1.5 diabetes): Type 1.5 is one of several names now applied to

those who are diagnosed with diabetes as adults, but who do not immediately require insulin for treatment, are often not overweight, and have little or no resistance to insulin. When special lab tests are done, they are found to have antibodies, especially GAD65 antibodies, that attack their beta cells.

5. Pre-Diabetes refers to a person who has a fasting blood sugar of 100-125mg/dl or 5.5-6.875mm. This is the term used by healthcare providers to say you do not have diabetes yet, but without lifestyle changes, you will probably go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes will also be referred to as IGT and IFG.
6. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are intermediate conditions in the transition between normality and diabetes. People with IGT or IFG are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, although with proactive lifestyle changes, this is not guaranteed.

For the purpose of this presentation, the focus will be on Type 2 diabetes because of the large percentage of people with diabetes have Type 2 (90%)

Reference: WHO http://www.who.int/diabetes/publications/Definition and diagnosis of diabetes_new.pdf