All patients of diabetes fall into two types of diabetes:

1- Diabetes Mellitus Type I
2- Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that body is not able to produce insulin and/or the body’s ability to use it. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas to help the body to store glucose for later use. Currently the acceptable blood glucose levels are between 80 to 110 before meal.

The other name for Diabetes Mellitus Type I is Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes. In this type of diabetes, pancreas does not work properly and produces little or no insulin at all and patient has to take insulin injection and must have a proper diet and exercise to control blood glucose level. Most of the patients who have diabetes type 1 are under the age of 30. The symptoms of diabetes type 1 are frequent urination, often at night, constant hunger, fatigue, excessive thirst and patient is usually thin.

Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) or adult onset diabetes is another name for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. About 90% of the people are under this type of diabetes. In diabetes type 2, pancreas work properly and produces insulin normally, but the problem is body is not able to use the existing insulin; therefore, blood glucose level rises. Patients who have diabetes type 2 should control their blood glucose with diet, exercise and oral medications. Only a small percentage of people may need injection during illness and stress. Normally patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 are obese and their age is above 30. Most of the time there is no symptoms as body adapts to the slow rise in blood glucose levels.