Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of DiabetesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping With SIDDFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Diabetes
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping With SIDD
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep reading to learn what makes SIDD different than other types of diabetes and what a SIDD diagnosis means for you.
hxyume / Getty Images

Could You Have Undiagnosed Diabetes?
There are three majortypes of diabetes, as follows:
What Is Insulin?Insulinis a hormone that allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter your cells to supply them with energy. Without insulin (or a healthy insulin response),glucose can build up in your bloodstream, causing frequent urination, excessive thirst, and several other serious complications.
What Is Insulin?
Insulinis a hormone that allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter your cells to supply them with energy. Without insulin (or a healthy insulin response),glucose can build up in your bloodstream, causing frequent urination, excessive thirst, and several other serious complications.
There are several subtypes of type 2 diabetes, including:
Each subtype comes with specific criteria like the associated risk of complications, comorbidities, genetics, and response to treatment. SIDD is strongly related to certain complications, such askidney diseaseand retinopathy.
Comparing SubgroupsDividing diabetes into subgroups is a newer, more precise way to classify aspects of the condition. Below is an estimation of how common each subtype is in type 2 diabetes.Mild age-related diabetes (MARD): 39%Mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD): 22%Severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD): 18%Severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD): 15%
Comparing Subgroups
Dividing diabetes into subgroups is a newer, more precise way to classify aspects of the condition. Below is an estimation of how common each subtype is in type 2 diabetes.Mild age-related diabetes (MARD): 39%Mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD): 22%Severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD): 18%Severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD): 15%
Dividing diabetes into subgroups is a newer, more precise way to classify aspects of the condition. Below is an estimation of how common each subtype is in type 2 diabetes.
SIDD Symptoms
The symptoms of the SIDD subtype are similar to other forms of type 2 diabetes. Some specific characteristics of SIDD include having:
Other symptoms common to other forms of type 2 diabetes include:
SIDD Causes
SIDD Complications
The biggest consideration with most subtypes of diabetes is the increased prevalence of particular complications. In particular, people with SIDD are more likely to experience the following:
Other subgroups carry a higher risk of additional complications. All the subtypes share the general complications associated with type 2 diabetes, including:
Diabetes Side Effects and Comorbidities
Your provider will look at six data points to determine your diabetes subtype. These data points include the following:
Treatments for SIDD
SIDD and other subtypes of diabetes are treated with diet and lifestyle changes, like carbohydrate control and exercise. Treatment may include oral antihyperglycemics such asmetforminor injectedinsulin.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend additional treatments like:
Diabetes is a lifelong condition. There is no cure, but you can manage the disease with the properlifestyle changes, a proper diet, and medications. Adhering to the treatment plan you create with your provider can help keep your diabetes in check and prevent you from developing dangerous complications.
Type 2 Diabetes: Statistics and Facts
Creating a plan that fits your lifestyle will help you adhere to your treatment regimen. You may find it helpful to involve your family, friends, healthcare provider, andtechnology. Below are some tips to improve your quality of life with diabetes:
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Summary
Diabetes is a serious, lifelong disease that can lead to complications if not managed correctly. Specific forms of diabetes, like SIDD, can increase your risk of certain complications, including vision problems and nerve pain. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to manage your diabetes.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBeing insulin deficient means your body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin for the amount of glucose in your body. Without enough insulin, glucose can build up in your blood and cause complications like heart or kidney disease or vision loss.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin?Not necessarily. While diabetes is sometimes associated with weight gain, you may lose weight with insulin deficiency. Without enough insulin to move glucose into your cells, your cells become starved for energy and waste away.Learn MoreCould Rapid Weight Loss Mean Diabetes?No. You can have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency without having diabetes. In these cases, you may have conditions called metabolic syndrome or prediabetes. If caught early enough, you may be able to avoid diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?
Being insulin deficient means your body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin for the amount of glucose in your body. Without enough insulin, glucose can build up in your blood and cause complications like heart or kidney disease or vision loss.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin?
Being insulin deficient means your body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin for the amount of glucose in your body. Without enough insulin, glucose can build up in your blood and cause complications like heart or kidney disease or vision loss.
Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin?
Not necessarily. While diabetes is sometimes associated with weight gain, you may lose weight with insulin deficiency. Without enough insulin to move glucose into your cells, your cells become starved for energy and waste away.Learn MoreCould Rapid Weight Loss Mean Diabetes?
Not necessarily. While diabetes is sometimes associated with weight gain, you may lose weight with insulin deficiency. Without enough insulin to move glucose into your cells, your cells become starved for energy and waste away.
Learn MoreCould Rapid Weight Loss Mean Diabetes?
No. You can have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency without having diabetes. In these cases, you may have conditions called metabolic syndrome or prediabetes. If caught early enough, you may be able to avoid diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?
No. You can have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency without having diabetes. In these cases, you may have conditions called metabolic syndrome or prediabetes. If caught early enough, you may be able to avoid diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes.
Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ahlqvist E, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.2020; 69 (10): 2086–2093. doi.org/10.2337/dbi20-0001Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).Dutta D, Mukhopadhyay S.Novel diabetes subgroups.Lancet. June 2018;6(6):438). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30129-3.Xing L, Peng F, Liang Q, et al.Clinical characteristics and risk of diabetic complications in data-driven clusters among Type 2 diabetes.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). June 2021;12:617628. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.617628Ahlqvist e, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of Type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.October 2020;69(10):2086–2093. doi:10.2337/dbi20-0001.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes symptoms.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.Herder C, Roden M.A novel diabetes typology: towards precision diabetology from pathogenesis to treatment.Diabetologia.January2022. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05625-x.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Sarría-Santamera A, Orazumbekova B, Maulenkul T, Gaipov A, Atageldiyeva K.The identification of diabetes mellitus subtypes applying cluster analysis techniques: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):9523.Collins L, Costello RA.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.StatPearls.Simes BC, MacGregor GG.Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: A clinician’s guide.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. October 2019;12:2125-2136. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S212003.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.10 tips for coping with diabetes distress.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and diabetes.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ahlqvist E, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.2020; 69 (10): 2086–2093. doi.org/10.2337/dbi20-0001Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).Dutta D, Mukhopadhyay S.Novel diabetes subgroups.Lancet. June 2018;6(6):438). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30129-3.Xing L, Peng F, Liang Q, et al.Clinical characteristics and risk of diabetic complications in data-driven clusters among Type 2 diabetes.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). June 2021;12:617628. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.617628Ahlqvist e, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of Type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.October 2020;69(10):2086–2093. doi:10.2337/dbi20-0001.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes symptoms.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.Herder C, Roden M.A novel diabetes typology: towards precision diabetology from pathogenesis to treatment.Diabetologia.January2022. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05625-x.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Sarría-Santamera A, Orazumbekova B, Maulenkul T, Gaipov A, Atageldiyeva K.The identification of diabetes mellitus subtypes applying cluster analysis techniques: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):9523.Collins L, Costello RA.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.StatPearls.Simes BC, MacGregor GG.Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: A clinician’s guide.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. October 2019;12:2125-2136. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S212003.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.10 tips for coping with diabetes distress.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and diabetes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ahlqvist E, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.2020; 69 (10): 2086–2093. doi.org/10.2337/dbi20-0001Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).Dutta D, Mukhopadhyay S.Novel diabetes subgroups.Lancet. June 2018;6(6):438). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30129-3.Xing L, Peng F, Liang Q, et al.Clinical characteristics and risk of diabetic complications in data-driven clusters among Type 2 diabetes.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). June 2021;12:617628. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.617628Ahlqvist e, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of Type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.October 2020;69(10):2086–2093. doi:10.2337/dbi20-0001.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes symptoms.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.Herder C, Roden M.A novel diabetes typology: towards precision diabetology from pathogenesis to treatment.Diabetologia.January2022. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05625-x.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.Sarría-Santamera A, Orazumbekova B, Maulenkul T, Gaipov A, Atageldiyeva K.The identification of diabetes mellitus subtypes applying cluster analysis techniques: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):9523.Collins L, Costello RA.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.StatPearls.Simes BC, MacGregor GG.Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: A clinician’s guide.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. October 2019;12:2125-2136. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S212003.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.10 tips for coping with diabetes distress.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and diabetes.
Ahlqvist E, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.2020; 69 (10): 2086–2093. doi.org/10.2337/dbi20-0001
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?
American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).
Dutta D, Mukhopadhyay S.Novel diabetes subgroups.Lancet. June 2018;6(6):438). doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30129-3.
Xing L, Peng F, Liang Q, et al.Clinical characteristics and risk of diabetic complications in data-driven clusters among Type 2 diabetes.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). June 2021;12:617628. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.617628
Ahlqvist e, Prasad RB, Groop L.Subtypes of Type 2 diabetes determined from clinical parameters.Diabetes.October 2020;69(10):2086–2093. doi:10.2337/dbi20-0001.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes symptoms.
National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.
Herder C, Roden M.A novel diabetes typology: towards precision diabetology from pathogenesis to treatment.Diabetologia.January2022. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05625-x.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.
Sarría-Santamera A, Orazumbekova B, Maulenkul T, Gaipov A, Atageldiyeva K.The identification of diabetes mellitus subtypes applying cluster analysis techniques: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):9523.
Collins L, Costello RA.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.StatPearls.
Simes BC, MacGregor GG.Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: A clinician’s guide.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. October 2019;12:2125-2136. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S212003.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.10 tips for coping with diabetes distress.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and diabetes.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?