General Information about Diabetes

You can get diabetes at any age. There are three main kinds of diabetes:

1. Type 1 diabetes, previously called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults.
2. Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age–even during childhood. Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
3. Some women develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can go away after the baby is born if the woman takes the necessary steps during pregnance. However a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.