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Types of diabetes: how they differ
Key takeaways
- Type 2 is by far the most common (about 90–95% of US cases).
- Type 1 is autoimmune and always needs insulin.
- Gestational diabetes appears in pregnancy and raises later type 2 risk.
- LADA and MODY are often misdiagnosed as type 2 or type 1 — the right label changes treatment.
Diabetes types compared
| Type | Cause | Typical onset | Usual treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells | Childhood or young adulthood, but any age | Insulin from diagnosis |
| Type 2 | Insulin resistance plus declining insulin production | Adults; increasingly teens | Lifestyle, oral or injectable medicines, sometimes insulin |
| Gestational | Pregnancy hormones increase insulin resistance | Usually found at 24–28 weeks | Meal planning, activity; sometimes insulin |
| LADA | Slow autoimmune type 1 in adults | Usually over 30 | May start with pills; insulin needed sooner than type 2 |
| MODY | A change in a single gene, often inherited | Often before age 25, runs in families | Depends on the gene: none, low-dose pills, or insulin |
| Secondary | Other conditions (pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis) or medicines (e.g., steroids) | Any age | Treat the cause plus glucose management |
Type 1 diabetes
The immune system attacks the pancreas's beta cells, so the body makes little or no insulin. Symptoms can come on quickly. Everyone with type 1 needs insulin, by injection or pump, along with glucose monitoring — often with a CGM.
Type 2 diabetes
Cells respond poorly to insulin, and over time the pancreas can't keep up. Risk rises with age, family history, excess weight, and inactivity. Many people manage it with lifestyle changes and medicines such as metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, or SGLT2 inhibitors. See diabetes medications.
Gestational diabetes
Diagnosed during pregnancy in people who didn't have diabetes before. It affects about 5–9% of US pregnancies and usually goes away after birth, but about half will later develop type 2. Read the gestational diabetes guide.
LADA and MODY
LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults) looks like type 2 at first but is autoimmune. MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young) is genetic and often runs through several generations. Both are covered in LADA vs. MODY.
Prediabetes
Not a type of diabetes, but a warning stage: glucose is above normal but below the diabetes range. It's very common — and often reversible. See prediabetes.
Whatever the type, a clear log helps your care team. Cardivo records glucose readings with meal tags alongside heart rate and blood pressure.
This guide is general wellness education based on the public sources below. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cardivo is not a medical device. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of diabetes are there?
The main types are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Less common forms include LADA, MODY and other monogenic diabetes, and secondary diabetes caused by other conditions or medicines.
Which type of diabetes is most common?
Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90–95% of diabetes cases in the US.
Is type 1 or type 2 worse?
Neither is 'mild.' Both can cause serious complications if glucose stays high, and both can be managed well with the right treatment and monitoring.
Sources
- NIDDK — What is diabetes?
- CDC — Gestational diabetes
- NIDDK — Monogenic diabetes (neonatal diabetes and MODY)