Which type of diabetes is characterized as insulin-dependent?

Type I Diabetes is characterized as insulin-dependent because this condition results from the body's immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a consequence, individuals with Type I Diabetes have little to no insulin production and must rely on external insulin administration to regulate their blood glucose levels. This type of diabetes typically presents in childhood or adolescence, although it can develop at any age.

In contrast, Type II Diabetes generally involves insulin resistance where the body still produces insulin but does not use it effectively. Gestational Diabetes occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth, while Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults is a slower-progressing form of diabetes that shares characteristics with both Type I and Type II. However, it is not labeled specifically as insulin-dependent in the same way that Type I Diabetes is. Understanding the differences in insulin dependency among these types highlights why Type I Diabetes is uniquely classified as insulin-dependent.