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What it is: A form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy (usually in the second or third trimester) in women who didn’t previously have diabetes.
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Causes: Hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause insulin resistance.
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Risks: Can lead to complications such as larger birthweight babies, pre-eclampsia, and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life for both mother and child.
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Typically resolves after birth, but requires careful monitoring.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
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What it is: A rare, inherited form of diabetes caused by a genetic mutation affecting insulin production.
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Features:
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Usually diagnosed under the age of 25.
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Can often be managed without insulin.
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There are several subtypes depending on the gene affected (e.g., HNF1A, HNF4A, GCK).
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Often misdiagnosed as Type 1 or Type 2.
Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)
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What it is: A very rare form of diabetes that presents in infants under 6 months old.
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Causes: Caused by genetic mutations affecting insulin secretion.
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Types:
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Transient NDM: Disappears during infancy but may return later in life.
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Permanent NDM: Lifelong condition requiring insulin or other treatment.
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Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus (NDM)
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What it is: Diabetes that results as a consequence of another medical condition or treatment.
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Causes include:
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Pancreatic diseases (e.g., pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer)
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Endocrine disorders (e.g., Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly)
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Medication-induced (e.g., long-term steroid use, certain antipsychotics)
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Secondary Diabetes
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What it is: Sometimes called Type 1.5 diabetes, it’s a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes.
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Features:
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Often diagnosed in adults over 30.
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Initially may not require insulin, like Type 2, but eventually insulin therapy is needed.
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Positive for diabetes-related autoantibodies (like Type 1).
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Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)
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What it is: A form of secondary diabetes triggered by prolonged or high-dose corticosteroid use.
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Why it happens: Steroids increase blood glucose levels by causing insulin resistance.
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Common in: Patients with inflammatory diseases, organ transplant recipients, and those undergoing chemotherapy.
Steroid-induced Diabetes
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Wolfram Syndrome (DIDMOAD): Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness.
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Alström Syndrome: Diabetes along with obesity, blindness, hearing loss, and heart disease.
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Cystic Fibrosis-related Diabetes (CFRD): A unique form of diabetes seen in people with cystic fibrosis due to pancreatic damage.