Diabetes FAQ

Type 1 diabetes is the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells and requires lifelong insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is linked to insulin resistance and a gradual insulin shortage, more often develops in adults, and accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases worldwide.

Type 1 diabetes is considered a chronic condition with no known way to fully cure it. Type 2 diabetes can go into remission — significant weight loss has been associated with remission in some people with obesity in some studies — but this doesn't always mean a permanent cure.

Both types have a genetic component. For type 1, HLA genes are known to play a role; for type 2, heritability is estimated at around 70%, although lifestyle also plays a significant role.

A condition in which muscle, liver, and fat cells respond less effectively to insulin, forcing the pancreas to produce more of it. This is a key mechanism in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Not directly: diabetes arises from problems with insulin production or action. However, sugary drinks and excess sugar are linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes indirectly — through their contribution to weight gain.

The classic triad is intense thirst, frequent urination, and increased appetite, along with fatigue, blurred vision, and unplanned weight loss. About half of people with diabetes may have no pronounced symptoms at all.

The main tests are fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), the oral glucose tolerance test, and a random glucose measurement combined with symptoms. See the "Diagnosis" page for details.

An intermediate state where glucose levels are higher than normal but haven't yet reached the diabetic threshold. Unlike diabetes, prediabetes is often described as reversible with lifestyle changes. See the "Prediabetes" page for details.

The Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that intensive lifestyle changes (physical activity, moderate weight loss) reduced the rate of new type 2 diabetes by about 58% among participants compared with a control group.

No. It's an autoimmune disease with a significant genetic component, and there is currently no known way to prevent it — unlike type 2 diabetes, where lifestyle plays a significant role.

Yes — with proper monitoring and glucose control, most women with gestational diabetes deliver a healthy baby. The condition usually resolves right after delivery, although it raises the mother's long-term risk of type 2 diabetes.

Acute complications include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar state, and severe hypoglycemia. Chronic complications include damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. See the "Complications" page for details.

According to the WHO, around 830 million adults had diabetes in 2022. The IDF Diabetes Atlas (2025) gives a somewhat different estimate — 589 million adults aged 20–79, or roughly one in nine adults worldwide.

Yes — sources describe diabetes, especially with proper management, as compatible with a regular job, physical activity, and travel.