Classification
| Feature | Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | Sudden | Gradual |
| Age at onset | Mostly in children | Mostly in adults |
| Body habitus | Thin or normal | Often obese |
| Ketoacidosis | Common | Rare |
| Autoantibodies | Usually present | Absent |
| Endogenous insulin | Low or absent | Normal, decreased or increased |
| Concordance in identical twins |
50% | 90% |
| Prevalence | ~10% | ~90% |
Diabetes mellitus is classified into four broad categories: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes and "other specific types". The "other specific types" are a collection of a few dozen individual causes. The term "diabetes", without qualification, usually refers to diabetes mellitus. The rare disease diabetes insipidus has similar symptoms as diabetes mellitus, but without disturbances in the sugar metabolism (insipidus means "without taste" in Latin).
The term "type 1 diabetes" has replaced several former terms, including childhood-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Likewise, the term "type 2 diabetes" has replaced several former terms, including adult-onset diabetes, obesity-related diabetes, and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Beyond these two types, there is no agreed-upon standard nomenclature.
Read more about this topic: Diabetes Mellitus