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1. 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:

• Too much glucose (blood sugar) collects in the blood
• The body's cells cannot use it for energy

If diabetes is not managed appropriately it can lead to health complications (heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease and limb amputations) or even death. In 2018, 1 in 9 (11.6%) of Kansas adults reported ever being diagnosed with diabetes. That is more than 250,000 Kansans.

2. What is prediabetes?

It means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is really a wake-up call to turn things around, get healthier, and not get type 2 diabetes down the road.

3. What is type 2 diabetes?

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). Type 2 diabetes happens when your body does not make or use insulin well and cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels. Some quick facts about type 2 diabetes include:

• It can develop at any age
• Most cases can be prevented
• Is on the rise due to increased obesity
• There is no cure, but it can be managed by losing weight, eating well and exercising
• Some people may also need diabetes medications or insulin therapy

4. Who is at risk?

Since 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes, the bottom line is that millions are at risk. If you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight and are not physically active on a regular basis, are over age 45 or are African-American or Hispanic, you have a greater chance of developing prediabetes. Could you have prediabetes? Visit the Centers for Disease Control website to Take a Prediabetes Test.