Type 1 or Type 2?

If tests reveal that you have diabetes (and you're not pregnant), the next question is whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Although the symptoms and blood test results can be similar for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the causes are very different.

It will help your provider to know whether there has been type 1 or type 2 diabetes in your family. Your age is not the only clue about what type of diabetes you have. It's true that most people younger than age 20 who show signs of diabetes have type 1 diabetes and that most people diagnosed with diabetes when they're over age 30 have type 2 diabetes. But there are exceptions.

In recent years, an increasing number of children and teens have also developed type 2 diabetes. In a few cases, families carry a genetic trait for developing type 2 diabetes as young people.

"Having a sweet tooth runs in my family. My dad got diabetes from eating too much sugar."

Eating too much of anything causes weight gain, which leads to obesity. Having a certain genetic background predisposes you to diabetes. Being overweight can be the trigger that causes type 2 diabetes to show itself. Whether the excess pounds are from eating candy or bagels or meat loaf makes little difference.

Eating too much sugar doesn't cause diabetes. But eating too much sugar isn't healthy for anyone. It can cause tooth decay and, with the increase in calories, lead to excess pounds. Sweets contain lots of carbohydrates and sometimes fat, which may fill you up without giving you much nutritional benefit. Having a candy bar before lunch makes it easier to pass up the vegetable soup.

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And in some American Indian families, obesity is so prevalent that children as young as 10 years old have type 2 diabetes.

• If you are overweight or obese, it is more likely that you have type 2 diabetes.
• If you suddenly developed signs of diabetes, such as frequent urination, unusual thirst and hunger, and weight loss, perhaps after an illness, and are a young adult or child, it is more likely that you have type 1 diabetes.
• If you are not overweight and there are ketones in your urine, it is more likely that you have type 1 diabetes.
• If you are African American, Native American, Asian American, or Hispanic American, are older than 50, are overweight, and haven't been feeling quite "right" for a long time, it is more likely that you have type 2 diabetes.
• If you take insulin injections, you could have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

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Martha M. Funnell, MS, RN, CDE
Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center
University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn Arbor, Michigan