What type of diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is specifically referred to as type I diabetes. This condition typically arises in childhood or early adulthood, which is why it is often called juvenile diabetes. In individuals with type I diabetes, the pancreas produces little to no insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. As a result, these individuals require external insulin administration to regulate their blood glucose levels. This dependency on insulin for survival is the primary reason why this type of diabetes is designated as insulin-dependent.

Type II diabetes, on the other hand, usually develops in adults and involves insulin resistance as well as a gradual decline in insulin production. Gestational diabetes is a type that occurs during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, while hyperglycemia refers to elevated blood glucose levels and is a potential symptom of various types of diabetes rather than a specific type itself. Therefore, the definition and characteristics associated with type I diabetes distinguish it clearly as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.