Diabetes is a disease that affects people of all ages. However, the incidence of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other forms of this disorder vary from one age group to another.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset diabetes) accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. In this form, the body produces insulin but is unable to use it properly to break down glucose (blood sugar) for energy.

Like many other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, the risk for developing type 2 diabetes increases with age and is most often diagnosed after the age of 45. However, the number of obese children has risen dramatically over the years and so has the number of children and teens diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes) is often diagnosed before age 20. In this form, patients can no longer produce insulin. Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) is a variation of type 1 diabetes that usually develops after age 30 and is sometimes misdiagnosed as type 2.

Other forms of diabetes include maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), caused by a genetic abnormality. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in young adults but has also been seen in teens and children. Gestational diabetes can affect any woman of childbearing age who becomes pregnant.

Many risk factors for type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can be controlled, such as diet, weight and level of physical activity. By controlling these risk factors earlier in life, a person has a better chance to delay or perhaps even prevent the onset of diabetes later in life.

Type 1 diabetes, LADA and MODY are not tied to controllable risk factors such as obesity. However, early diagnosis and management of these types of diabetes can prevent many health complications.