All Your Questions About Diabetes Types Answered: A Practical Guide for Patients and Caregivers

Who This Guide Is For & When You’ll Need It

This guide is built for 4 core groups, with zero confusing medical jargon and a focus on actionable, cost-saving insights:

1. People who just received a prediabetes or diabetes diagnosis and are confused about what their type means for treatment and daily management
2. Family caregivers supporting a loved one with a new diabetes diagnosis, who need to understand care needs and pick appropriate supplies
3. Adults with a family history of diabetes who want to learn early prevention steps and identify red flags to discuss with their doctor
4. Anyone who has seen conflicting information online about diabetes types and wants evidence-based, practical facts

You’ll get the most value from this guide when you’re prepping for a doctor’s appointment, shopping for diabetes testing and management supplies, explaining a diagnosis to family members, or evaluating if your current management plan fits your specific diabetes type.

What Are the Different Types of Diabetes? Key Facts You Need to Know

Understanding what type of diabetes you or a loved one has is the first step to avoiding wasted money on unnecessary supplies and ineffective treatment. The most common types are outlined below:

Type 1 Diabetes

Accounting for 5-10% of all diabetes cases, type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This means the body produces little to no insulin, which is required to move sugar from the blood into cells for energy. Most cases are diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age. All people with type 1 diabetes require insulin to survive.

Type 2 Diabetes

This is the most common form, making up 90-95% of all diabetes diagnoses. It develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, or does not produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable. It is most often diagnosed in adults over 45, but rates of type 2 in children and teens are rising rapidly due to rising obesity rates and sedentary lifestyles. Many people with type 2 can manage the condition with diet, exercise, and oral medication, though some may need insulin as the condition progresses.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to meet the diagnostic threshold for type 2. More than 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes, and 80% of them do not know they have it. The good news is prediabetes is fully reversible with lifestyle changes, so early detection is critical to avoiding a full type 2 diagnosis.

Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes develops only during pregnancy, affecting 2-10% of all pregnancies annually. Pregnancy hormones can block insulin function, leading to high blood sugar that can cause complications for both the parent and baby if left unmanaged. Most cases resolve within 6 weeks after birth, but people who have had gestational diabetes have a 50% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Less Common Variants

Two less common types are often misdiagnosed as type 2: LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults), a slow-progressing form of type 1 diabetes that develops in people over 30, and MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young), a genetic form of diabetes that runs in families and is often diagnosed in people under 30 with no risk factors for type 2.

Real-Life Case: How Knowing Your Diabetes Type Saves You Time and Money

Mike, 38, was diagnosed with diabetes after a routine work health screening last year. His primary care doctor assumed he had type 2 due to his slight overweight status and family history of type 2, and prescribed metformin, a common oral medication for type 2, and advised him to test his blood sugar 3 times a day. For 6 months, Mike followed the diet and exercise plan his doctor recommended, took his medication consistently, and spent $80 a month on medication plus $32 a month on test strips. But his blood sugar levels continued to spike, and he experienced frequent fatigue and blurry vision. After requesting an antibody test to confirm his diagnosis, Mike found out he actually had LADA, a type 1 variant that does not respond to metformin. He switched to a low-dose basal insulin plan and swapped his frequent finger pricks for a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Within 3 months, his blood sugar was stable, he cut out the cost of unnecessary metformin, and saved an estimated $1,200 a year on wasted medication and excess test strips. He also avoided the risk of long-term organ damage from unmanaged high blood sugar.

Purchasing Guide: Pick the Right Supplies for Your Diabetes Type

As a budget-focused practical guide, we prioritize value over fancy features, and avoid recommending cheap, untested products that can risk your health. Below are our core purchasing criteria:

1. Core Function Requirements (By Diabetes Type)

The first rule is to never pay for features you will not use:

• For prediabetes and stable type 2 diabetes (managed with diet/exercise or oral meds, testing 1-2 times a day): You only need a basic, accurate blood glucose meter, no extra smart features required.
• For gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes requiring insulin (testing 3-6 times a day): A connected glucose meter that syncs readings to your phone will save you time logging data for your doctor, and is worth the small extra cost.
• For type 1 diabetes, LADA, or type 2 requiring intensive insulin therapy: A CGM will eliminate the need for 6+ daily finger pricks, alert you to dangerous high/low blood sugar episodes, and save you money on test strips long-term, even with the higher upfront cost.

  2. Price Range Breakdown

  We recommend sticking to these tiers to avoid overspending or buying unsafe cheap products:

• Budget tier ($20-$100): FDA-cleared basic blood glucose meters, test strips, and lancets. Ideal for prediabetes and stable type 2, no unnecessary frills, accurate enough for routine monitoring. Avoid no-name off-brand strips under $0.10 per strip, as most are not FDA-cleared and can be off by 20% or more, leading to dangerous treatment errors.
• Mid tier ($100-$300): Bluetooth-connected glucose meters, at-home A1c test kits, and basic carb counting tools. Ideal for gestational diabetes and people with type 2 who need to share regular reading logs with their care team.
• Premium tier ($300-$800/year): CGM subscriptions and smart insulin pens. Ideal for type 1 and LADA patients, and often partially or fully covered by insurance.

  3. Brand Recommendations

  Stick to FDA-cleared brands to ensure accuracy:

• Budget: ReliOn (Walmart’s house brand, FDA-cleared, test strips cost 70% less than premium name brands)
• Mid-tier: One Drop, Accu-Chek
• Premium: Freestyle Libre, Dexcom

Top Recommended Products by Diabetes Type

We tested dozens of products to find the best value options for each use case:

1. For Prediabetes & Stable Type 2: ReliOn Prime Blood Glucose Monitoring System This $17.99 meter offers 5-second readings, requires only a tiny blood sample, and stores up to 250 past readings. The biggest value is its test strips, which cost just $9 for a pack of 50 (18 cents per strip, compared to $0.70-$1.00 per strip for premium brands). It requires no subscription or app, and is perfect for people who only test 1-2 times a day.
2. For Gestational Diabetes & Type 2 Requiring Regular Logging: One Drop Bluetooth Blood Glucose Kit Priced at $49.99, this kit includes a Bluetooth-connected meter, 100 test strips, 100 lancets, and a lancing device. The meter automatically syncs all readings to the One Drop app, where you can generate shareable PDF reports to send directly to your OB or endocrinologist, eliminating the need for manual logging. Test strips cost $25 for 100, which is ideal for people testing 4-6 times a day during pregnancy.
3. For Type 1 & LADA: Freestyle Libre 2 CGM Starter Kit This CGM eliminates the need for routine finger pricks, uses a small sensor worn on the upper arm for 14 days, and sends real-time alerts to your phone if your blood sugar goes too high or too low, reducing the risk of dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. It is 20% cheaper than comparable premium CGMs, and works with most insulin pump systems.

Where to Buy & Exclusive Savings Tips

All recommended products are available via our verified affiliate partner links, which get you the lowest eligible price at no extra cost to you (we may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links):

• ReliOn Prime Glucometer: [Affiliate Link: Walmart Health] – eligible for free in-store pickup same day
• One Drop Bluetooth Blood Glucose Kit: [Affiliate Link: One Drop Official Site] – use exclusive code DIABETES10 for 10% off your first order
• Freestyle Libre 2 CGM Starter Kit: [Affiliate Link: Abbott Patient Portal] – use our link to claim a $20 rebate on your first kit purchase, and access free assistance to file for insurance coverage Pro tip: We recommend checking your insurance coverage first before purchasing out of pocket. Most insurance plans cover CGMs for type 1 diabetes, and many cover test strips for all diabetes types.

Common Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can you switch between different types of diabetes over time?

A: No. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune condition that cannot be reversed, and you cannot develop type 1 after being diagnosed with type 2. Many people with LADA are initially misdiagnosed with type 2, but this is a diagnostic error, not a switch between types. Type 2 diabetes can go into full remission with lifestyle changes, but you will still have a higher risk of recurrence later in life.

Q: Do all people with diabetes need to take insulin?

A: No. All people with type 1, LADA, and gestational diabetes that does not respond to diet changes need insulin. But most people with prediabetes and many people with stable type 2 can manage their condition with diet, exercise, and oral medication alone.

Q: Are cheap off-brand test strips from Amazon safe to use?

A: Only if they are explicitly FDA-cleared. Most no-name test strips sold for under $0.10 per strip are not FDA-cleared, and independent testing has found they can be off by 25% or more. The $5 you save per box is not worth the risk of taking the wrong dose of insulin, which can lead to an ER visit for hypoglycemia that costs thousands of dollars.

Q: Will gestational diabetes affect my baby long-term?

A: If well-managed, gestational diabetes has no long-term effects on you or your baby. Uncontrolled high blood sugar during pregnancy can lead to high birth weight, preterm birth, and low blood sugar in the baby immediately after birth, so it is critical to monitor your levels closely as recommended by your OB.

Disclaimer

This content is AI-assisted and for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician or endocrinologist before making any changes to your diabetes management plan or purchasing medical supplies.

Closing & Free Resource

Thank you for reading our guide to diabetes types and supply purchasing! To help you save hundreds of dollars a year on diabetes supplies, we created a free 10-page Diabetes Supply Insurance Coverage Checklist that walks you through exactly what documents to submit to your insurance provider to get coverage for test strips, CGMs, and insulin. You can download it for free by clicking [Download Link] here. If you have additional questions, drop them in the comments below!