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Diabetes Mellitus (commonly referred to as diabetes) is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to properly process food for use as energy. When a person has diabetes, their body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in the blood. Diabetes can lead to health problems like heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and lower-extremity amputations.

Types of Diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and Gestational diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This results in the body producing very little or no insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. With Type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't use insulin properly and can't keep blood sugar at normal levels. It's associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst and urination
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
• Sores that do not heal
• Unexplained weight loss (more common in Type 1)

Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests that measure the level of glucose in the blood. The main tests for diagnosing diabetes are the fasting plasma glucose test, the A1C test, and the oral glucose tolerance test.

Management

Managing diabetes involves monitoring blood sugar levels, diet, physical activity, and taking medication if prescribed. People with Type 1 diabetes require insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes may manage their condition through diet and exercise alone or may require diabetes medication or insulin.

Prevention

Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.

Complications

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a number of serious health problems, including:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems
• Dental disease
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems

See Also

• Insulin resistance
• Diabetic diet
• Diabetes management