What are the two types of diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is primarily classified into two major types: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to insulin deficiency. This form typically manifests in childhood or young adulthood and requires lifelong insulin therapy for management.

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is primarily associated with insulin resistance and is more prevalent in adults, often linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. In this type, the body does not use insulin effectively, which can eventually lead to insulin deficiency over time. Management often includes lifestyle modifications, oral hypoglycemic agents, and may also require insulin therapy.

Other options mentioned, such as Type 3 diabetes or gestational diabetes, do not represent the primary classifications of the disease. While prediabetes is a condition that precedes Type 2 diabetes, it does not constitute a separate type of diabetes mellitus. Thus, the focus on Type 1 and Type 2 captures the essential categories that define diabetes mellitus.