Type 1 diabetes is caused by the complete lack of insulin in the body, due to the destruction of the pancreatic cells responsible for insulin production. It is the most common cause of childhood diabetes. People with this form of diabetes need daily insulin injections to survive.
Type 2 diabetes is marked by lowered levels of insulin or the inability of the body to use insulin properly (known as insulin resistance). The development of this type of diabetes is usually gradual and symptoms generally appear after the age of 40. Various risk factors lead to type 2 diabetes, such as a lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet and obesity. People with type 2 diabetes often have a family history of the disease.
Gestational diabetes occurs in 2 – 5% of pregnant women who were not previously diagnosed with diabetes. It usually goes away after giving birth. However, it is a sign of increased risk of having type 2 diabetes later in life.