Two Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. In patients with either type, the body does not properly process and use food. The human body normally converts food to glucose, the simple sugar that is the main source of energy for the body's cells. To enter cells, glucose needs the help of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. When a person does not make enough insulin, or the body does not respond to the insulin that is present, the body cannot process glucose, and it builds up in the bloodstream. High levels of glucose in the blood lead to a diagnosis of diabetes. Both types of diabetes can lead to kidney disease.

Type 1 Diabetes
Only about 1 in 20 people with diabetes has type 1 diabetes, which tends to occur in young adults and children. Type 1 used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections or use an insulin pump. They also control blood glucose levels with meal planning and physical activity. Type 1 diabetes is more likely to lead to kidney failure. Twenty to 40 percent of people with type 1 diabetes develop kidney failure by the age of 50. Some develop kidney failure before the age of 30.

Type 2 Diabetes
About 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, once known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not respond normally to their own or to injected insulin--a condition called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes occurs more often in people over the age of 40, and many people with type 2 are overweight. Many also are not aware that they have the disease. Some people with type 2 control their blood glucose with meal planning and physical activity. Others must take pills that stimulate production of insulin, reduce insulin resistance, decrease the liver's output of glucose, or slow absorption of carbohydrate from the gastrointestinal tract. Still others require injections of insulin. Between 1993 and 1997, more than 100,000 people in the United States were treated for kidney failure caused by type 2 diabetes.
Content Courtesy : kidney.niddk.nih.gov
^{Note : Information herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any course of supplementation or treatment.}