To better understand the stages of diabetes it is helpful to know what causes the disease. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body’s immune system mistakenly destroying beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are responsible for insulin production and without them the pancreas is unable to make insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the beta cells produce the insulin, but the body is unable to use it efficiently. According the American Diabetes Association the stages that mark the progression diabetes are: Type 1 diabetes - Pre-Stage 1 – analysis is used to help identify genes commonly associated with type 1 diabetes. - Stage 1 - autoantibodies (antibodies produced by the immune system that attack the body’s own proteins) start attacking the beta cells in the pancreas; blood sugar levels remain normal, and no symptoms are present. - Stage 2 - more beta cells are destroyed, and low insulin and glucose intolerance leads to rising blood sugar levels. Although more serious, there are still no symptoms. - Stage 3 - there is a significant loss of beta cells causing symptoms that result in a type 1 diabetes diagnosis such as excessive hunger or thirst, blurry vision, severe fatigue, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss. Type 2 diabetes - Stage 1 – prediabetes. Muscle, liver and fat cells become insulin resistant; the pancreas produces more insulin to keep blood sugar levels within normal range. - Stage 2 - also prediabetes. Blood glucose levels remain higher than normal, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. - Stage 3 - blood sugar levels continue to be abnormally high, leading to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. - Stage 4 - the most serious complications can occur such as albuminuria (protein in the urine), chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, peripheral neuropathy or stroke.