Diabetes
The different forms of diabetes are managed differently. An accurate diagnosis is the starting point for the right treatment plan.
For an overview of today's treatment options, including CGM, GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medicines, SGLT2 inhibitors and insulin, read our guide to modern diabetes treatment in Hyderabad.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas — it isn't caused by diet or lifestyle, and it requires lifelong insulin replacement. It develops in identifiable stages before symptoms appear, and for the first time, a treatment can delay — not prevent — the onset of symptomatic disease in some people identified early through screening. This isn't yet routine care for most patients, so lifelong insulin therapy remains the standard once diagnosed.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, in which the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it, leading to elevated blood glucose over time. It's increasingly diagnosed at a younger age in India than in Western countries, and modern treatment often chooses medicines that address blood sugar and weight together from the start, rather than treating them one after the other.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes first identified during pregnancy — very common in India, with national studies estimating over 1 in 5 pregnancies affected — and it's screened for with a simple, patient-friendly test that doesn't require fasting, then carefully monitored for the health of both parent and baby. It usually resolves after delivery, but substantially raises lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes, which is why postpartum follow-up testing matters as much as monitoring during pregnancy itself.
Autoimmune diabetes (LADA)
LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) is a slower-onset form of autoimmune diabetes, often initially mistaken for type 2 diabetes. This matters practically, not just diagnostically — some standard type 2 diabetes medicines may actually accelerate LADA's progression, while others may help preserve remaining insulin production. In India, studies suggest a meaningful share of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, particularly those diagnosed before 40, may actually have LADA.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Hypoglycaemia is blood sugar below 70 mg/dL, usually in people taking insulin or sulfonylurea tablets. It causes shaking, sweating, hunger and confusion, and can lead to fainting if untreated. Treat it with the rule of 15: take 15 grams of fast sugar, recheck after 15 minutes, and repeat if still low. Repeated lows mean your treatment needs adjusting.