Diabetes: Information for Patients

If you have diabetes, or care for someone who has diabetes, this Web site may help you learn more about the illness. It has been designed to provide some basic information and tips for improving the management of your condition. In addition to the information here, we have listed a number of other sites and resources that provide more detailed information and guidance in managing diabetes. We hope you find these additional resources useful.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to use simple sugars (glucose) from digested foods to produce energy. The pancreas, an organ near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin, which helps cells absorb glucose. If you have diabetes, you are unable to use the glucose in your food for energy - either because your body doesn't make enough insulin or because it doesn't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes glucose to build up in your blood, where it can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. If untreated, diabetes can cause serious complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations. While diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability, with proper care, you should be able to avoid serious complications and continue to lead your normal, day-to-day life, participating in the activities you have always enjoyed.

For more detailed information about diabetes, see Resources for People with Diabetes.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

People who think they may have diabetes must visit a physician for a diagnosis. A blood test performed in a laboratory is required for diagnosis. Many people with diabetes do not even know they have it because symptoms can be mild and similar to those associated with other illnesses or normal aging. Diabetes may cause the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• Frequent infections

What are the different types of diabetes?

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

Type 1 Diabetes, previously called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes, occurs when the pancreas makes little or no insulin. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence, but can occur at any age. People with Type 1 diabetes must have insulin injections every day.

Type 2 Diabetes, previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, occurs when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to meet the body's needs, or when the body does not use insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults, particularly those who are over 40 and overweight; however, it is becoming increasingly common in children. Many people with Type 2 diabetes can control their diabetes through diet and regular exercise. If diet and exercise alone are not enough, insulin injections and/or oral medications may be required.

Gestational diabetes may develop during pregnancy if a woman is not able to produce enough insulin to keep her blood glucose levels within a range that is safe for her and her fetus. Unlike Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes goes away once the baby is born. However, women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of later developing Type 2 diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may lead to serious long-term complications, including blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and limb amputations. The good news is that the development of these complications is not inevitable. It is important to understand how serious the complications of diabetes can be, and the potential for problems, so you can detect and prevent them. Diabetes care is a 24-hour a day job, but preventing complications is well worth the effort.

Controlling Blood Glucose Levels

You can reduce your risk of complications by keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Major clinical trials have shown that tight control of blood glucose levels can prevent and slow the progression of complications, especially those involving the eyes, kidneys and nerves. This research proves that controlling blood glucose pays off.

Last Revised: February 14, 2007