Diabetes Basics

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a long-lasting disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar that then goes to your bloodstream. Then your body produces insulin that acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body's cells. When sugar cannot enter cells, this means:
       1. Too much glucose (blood sugar) collects in the blood
       2. The body's cells cannot use it for energy

If diabetes is not managed properly, it can lead to health complications including heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease and limb amputations or even death.

In most cases, diabetes can be prevented. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage it and stay healthy.

Types of Diabetes

There are four different types of diabetes. 

  1. Type 1 Diabetes
  2. Prediabetes
  3. Type 2 Diabetes
  4. Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes affects how your body turns food into energy. Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key to let blood sugar into your body’s cells to use as energy. Type 1 Diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your body from making insulin. When there is not enough insulin, too much sugar stays in your blood. Over time, too much sugar in your blood can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Insulin is necessary for management of Type 1 Diabetes. For those who need it, lack of access to insulin can very quickly result in severe complications and even death.

Risk Factors

One in three American adults has prediabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, are not physically active on a regular basis, are over age 45 or are of African American or Hispanic descent, you have a greater chance of developing prediabetes.

  1. Type 1 Diabetes
  2. Prediabetes
  3. Type 2 Diabetes
  4. Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

  • Family history: Having an immediate family member with Type 1 Diabetes (parent, brother, or sister). 
  • Age: Type 1 Diabetes is more likely to develop when you’re a child, teen, or young adult, but can develop at any age. 

Currently, no one knows how to prevent Type 1 Diabetes, but it can be managed by following your doctor’s recommendations for living a healthy lifestyle, managing your blood sugar, getting regular health checkups, and getting diabetes self-management education and support.