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Did you know that when it comes to diabetes there are more types than just type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes?

Some diabetes diagnoses don’t fit into the usual mould, but the important thing to remember is that the condition still needs to be managed.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition that affects 10-15 per cent of all people living with diabetes in Australia. All other types of diabetes, including type 2 and gestational diabetes, make up the remaining 85-90 per cent of cases in Australia.

Other lesser known sub-types of diabetes mellitus include:

• MODY (Maturity-onset diabetes of the young): Diagnosed generally before the age of 25, is the result of a chromosomal mutation in a person’s DNA affecting insulin production.
• LADA (Late-onset auto-immune diabetes in Adulthood): Similar to type 1 but diagnosed in adulthood.
• Direct injury to the pancreas-induced diabetes: This can be caused by trauma, pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, pancreatic carcinoma (cancer), hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis and gall stones.
• Medication-induced diabetes: Can be caused by Corticosteroids and some anti-psychotic medications in particular.
• Genetic syndrome conditions-induced diabetes: Down syndrome and Turner syndrome.