Diabetes can be chronic, or it can be temporary. Chronic types of diabetes include type one diabetes and type two diabetes. Temporary types include prediabetes and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes has no known cause, though experts believe your risk for it is genetic and may be influenced by environmental factors. Most often, it appears during childhood or adolescence. If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas produces little to no insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your cells become insulin resistant, and your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to offset this. As a result, glucose builds up in your bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have an exact known cause, but you’re at a much higher risk if you’re overweight, don’t exercise, are older, and/or have a family history of type 2 diabetes.