Common Types of Diabetes

There are many different kinds of diabetes, but the two most common types are type 1 and type 2.

Most of the symptoms are the same for both types and include the following:

• Urinating often
  
  
• Feeling very thirsty
  
  
• Feeling very hungry – even though you are eating
  
  
• Extreme fatigue
  
  
• Blurry vision
  
  
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal

Here's how type 1 and type 2 are different:

Type 1 diabetes

• Occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin
  
  
• Symptoms include those above, plus weight loss
  
  
• Appears mostly in children and young adults
  
  
• Is treated with diet, exercise, and insulin

Type 2 diabetes

• Occurs when the body does not use insulin properly (called “insulin resistance”)
  
  
• Symptoms include those above, plus tingling, pain, or numbness in hands or feet
  
  
• Risk increases with older age, obesity, and family history of diabetes
  
  
• Treated with diet, exercise, and many kinds of medications

While it’s not considered a type of diabetes, prediabetes is a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes. Patients with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are above normal. Many people with prediabetes will develop diabetes, but some will prevent that from happening by making changes like eating better, being more active, and losing weight.

Request testing from your doctor, or visit www.MyLabReQuest.com to learn how you can order without a doctor’s order.

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