Key facts about diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes means that your
blood sugar is too high. Your blood always has some sugar in it because the body uses sugar for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much sugar in the blood is not good for your health. Your body changes most of the food you eat into sugar. Your blood takes the sugar to the cells throughout your body. The sugar needs
insulin to get into the body's cells. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood.
Insulin helps the sugar from food get into body cells. If your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work right, the sugar can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This makes your blood sugar level high, causing you to have
diabetes. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations (having a toe or foot removed, for example), and nerve damage. In women, diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy and make it more likely that your baby will be born with birth defects.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal but lower than the
diabetes range. It also means you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The good news is: You can reduce the risk of getting
diabetes and even return to normal blood sugar levels with modest weight loss and moderate physical activity. If you are told you have
pre-diabetes, have your blood glucose (sugar) checked again in 1 to 2 years.
What are the different types of diabetes?
The three main types of diabetes are:
- Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, but it's a lifelong read more
