Diabetes mellitus, or simply, diabetes, is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin.

• Type 1 Diabetes: Also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM for short, and juvenile diabetes, results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin.

 
• Type 2 Diabetes: Results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.

 
• Gestational Diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 DM.