What is diabetes?

What is diabetes? Diabetes is when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is the main type of sugar found in your blood and your main source of energy. When your blood glucose levels get too high it can cause diabetes or prediabetes. What is prediabetes? Prediabetes is when the amount of glucose in your blood is above normal yet not high enough to be called diabetes. With prediabetes, your chances of getting a heart disease, and stroke are higher. What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes? The signs and symptoms of diabetes are being very thirsty urinating often feeling very hungry feeling very tired losing weight without trying dry, itchy skin feelings of pins and needles in your feet losing feeling in your feet blurry eyesight Some people with diabetes don’t have any of these signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have diabetes is to have your doctor do a blood test. What kind of diabetes do you have? The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2. People can develop diabetes at any age. Both women and men can develop diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes, develops most often in young people; however, type 1 diabetes can also develop in adults. Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking shots, also called injections, of insulin. sometimes taking medicines by mouth. making healthy food choices. being physically active. controlling your blood pressure levels. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes, can affect people at any age, even children. However, type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older people. People who are overweight and inactive are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes using diabetes medicines making healthy food choices being physically active controlling your blood pressure levels controlling your cholesterol levels How to take care of your diabetes? Over time, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your blood vessels, heart, nerves, kidneys, mouth, eyes, and feet. These problems can lead to an amputation, which is surgery to remove a damaged toe, foot, or leg, for example. The most serious problem caused by diabetes is heart disease. When you have diabetes, you are more than twice as likely as people without diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. The best way to take care of your health is to work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in your target range. Targets are numbers you aim for.