Which type of diabetes is referred to as juvenile diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes because it typically manifests in children, adolescents, and young adults. This condition arises when the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to little or no insulin production. Consequently, individuals with type 1 diabetes are often diagnosed at a younger age, which is why it has garnered the nickname "juvenile diabetes."

In contrast, diabetes type 2 generally occurs in adults and is often related to lifestyle factors and obesity. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, while prediabetes indicates a stage where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Each of these other forms of diabetes arises under different circumstances and in different age groups, emphasizing the unique characteristics that define type 1 diabetes as juvenile diabetes.