If a patient takes insulin for their diabetes, what type do they have?

Patients who take insulin for their diabetes are typically classified as having Type 1 diabetes. This form of diabetes occurs when the body produces little to no insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, individuals with Type 1 diabetes are reliant on exogenous insulin to manage their blood glucose levels effectively.

While some patients with Type 2 diabetes may also require insulin therapy, especially as their condition progresses, Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the necessity for insulin from the onset. Ingesting insulin is more common in Type 1 because the body lacks the capability to produce it.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or Type 2 diabetes, generally refers to types of diabetes that can often be managed through lifestyle changes and oral medications rather than requiring immediate insulin treatment. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, often requiring temporary management strategies that may or may not include insulin.

Taking into account these distinctions, it becomes clear why insulin use points towards a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.