There are 2 common types of diabetes – easily identified as type 1 and type 2. Both types have 5 different stages that the body can go through as it progresses through the condition. In type 1, the stages are: • Pre-Stage 1 involves a genetic analysis to determine the patient’s risk for developing the disease based on underlying genotypes found in the body. • Stage 1 has blood sugar levels in the normal range and no symptoms, but at least one autoantibody related to diabetes has been found in the blood. • Stage 2 still doesn’t experience any symptoms although now there are at least two autoantibodies found in the blood that are related to diabetes. • Stage 3 exhibits symptoms such as excessive hunger or thirst, severe fatigue, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, and blurry vision. Autoimmunity has also caused a significant loss to the beta cells. The stages of type 2 diabetes are: • Stage 1 has blood sugar levels still in the normal range; however, fat, muscle, and liver cells have become insulin resistant. • Stage 2, or prediabetes, sees an increase in blood glucose levels higher than normal, and blood sugar levels not being able to be lowered back to normal. • Stage 3 has blood sugar levels abnormally high with high blood sugar levels. • Stage 4 experiences high blood sugar and vascular complications that can lead to stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic kidney disease, among other conditions. For both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the fifth and final stage is referred to as “end-stage diabetes.” This term doesn’t get used extensively as it references advanced complications, such as end-stage renal disease, basically at the end of the patient’s life.