Stages of Diabetes: Stages, Symptoms, and Treatments – Healthline

Diabetes is an umbrella term for three primary conditions: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. According to guidelines established by experts in the field, there are multiple stages of diabetes, each of which are defined by physiological changes within the body.

In this article, well explore the stages of type 1 and type 2 diabetes as defined by diabetes experts, as well as information about long-term diabetes management.

Within the past decade, professional organizations, like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), have created guidelines that outline the various stages of diabetes development.

According to the literature on these guidelines, understanding the various stages of diabetes can allow physicians and patients to take a more comprehensive approach to preventive care and disease management.

Below, weve outlined the various stages of beta cell dysfunction, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, as established by current experts in the field of diabetes research.

In 2015, the ADA released a joint statement with the JDRF and Endocrine Society outlining the various stages of type 1 diabetes. Using the guideline below, clinicians can more easily diagnose this condition at an earlier stage, even when symptoms might not be present.

Its important to note that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin.

In this stage, genetic analysis can help identify underlying genotypes that are commonly associated with type 1 diabetes.

According to the research, a specific region on chromosome six called the HLA region is associated with up to 50 percent of the risk for developing this condition. Other factors, like having a sibling or close relative with type 1 diabetes, can also increase disease risk.

In this stage, at least one diabetes-related autoantibody is present in the blood. At this point, these autoantibodies have already begun to attack the beta cells in the pancreas. But blood sugar levels still remain within the normal range, and no symptoms are present.

In this stage, at least two or more diabetes-related autoantibodies are present in the blood. As the beta cells continue to be destroyed by the immune system, a lack of insulin leads to rising blood sugar levels due to glucose intolerance. Although beta cell dysfunction is more serious at this stage, there are still no symptoms yet.

In this stage, theres a significant loss of beta cells due to autoimmunity and symptoms are present, resulting in a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. During this stage, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include:

In 2018, the AACE created the dysglycemia-based chronic disease (DBCD) multimorbidity care model. Much like the previous guidelines above from 2015, the DBCD care model helps clinicians take preventative steps to reduce type 2 diabetes complications.

This stage, defined as insulin resistance, is where muscle, fat, and liver cells become resistant to insulin and have trouble bringing glucose into the cell. But the pancreas compensates for this by producing more insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels within normal range.

In this stage, also known as prediabetes, cells become so insulin resistant that the extra insulin isnt enough to lower blood sugar levels back to normal. In some cases, beta cell dysfunction may also be present. During this stage, blood glucose levels remain higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

In this stage, blood sugar levels remain abnormally high, leading to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Both insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction can lead to high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. Without treatment, these elevated levels can cause long-term damage to the body.

In this stage, vascular complications can occur as a result of high blood sugar. As blood sugar levels remain high, damage can occur within the vascular system, leading to potential complications like:

While end-stage diabetes isnt a commonly used term, diabetes can lead to whats known as end-stage diabetic complications, or advanced complications. In people with diabetes, advanced complications, like end-stage renal disease, occur after many years of living with diabetes.

A study from 2019 found that microvascular complications from diabetes, like nephropathy, increase risk for cardiovascular events and death in people with type 1.

While theres no cure for diabetes, it can be managed through the appropriate treatment, which may include medications, dietary changes, and lifestyle interventions.

Although it can feel overwhelming to manage a chronic health condition like diabetes, your healthcare team is there to help you create a diabetes treatment plan that works best for you.

If youre concerned about managing your diabetes, the first step is to reach out to your doctor or care team to create a diabetes treatment plan. Depending on your diagnosis and personal needs, your treatment plan may include reaching out to:

According to experts in the field of diabetes research, diabetes staging plays an important role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes. Understanding the various stages of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes allows physicians and patients to see the progression of the disease so that treatment and long-term management can be improved.

If youve been diagnosed with diabetes, its important to stay educated about your condition so that you can more easily manage it in the long-term.

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Stages of Diabetes: Stages, Symptoms, and Treatments - Healthline