If you were recently diagnosed with diabetes, we encourage you to visit the following organizations to learn more about the disease. Please explore our website and read about the breakthrough science happening at PNDRI to prevent or cure this disease. If you would like to support PNDRI's effort to eliminate diabetes and its complications, you can make a tax-deductible charitable gift today.

Resources For All Forms of Diabetes

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's diabetes page
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
• National Diabetes Education Program
• Food & Drug Administration's diabetes page
• National Agricultural Library's diabetes and diet page
• Global Diabetes Alliance
• Indian Health Service's diabetes page
• Veterans Health Administration's diabetes page
• American Diabetes Association
• World Health Organization's diabetes page
• International Diabetes Federation

Specific Resources for those with Type 1 Diabetes:

• TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young)
• American Diabetes Association's type 1 diabetes page
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes may include autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors.

Type 2 Diabetes was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.

Gestational Diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed in some women during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs more frequently among African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and American Indians. It is also more common among obese women and women with a family history of diabetes. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes requires treatment to normalize maternal blood glucose levels to avoid complications in the infant. After pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have type 2 diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20% to 50% chance of developing diabetes in the next 5-10 years.