Most of the food we eat is converted into glucose. This glucose, or sugar, is then
used by our bodies for energy. The pancreas, a small organ near the stomach, makes
a hormone called insulin that helps get the glucose into our cells to be used as
energy.
With diabetes, your blood sugar can elevate to high levels. There are two main causes
of this. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. In type 2
diabetes, the body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't efficiently
use the insulin that is being made by the pancreas.
The symptoms of diabetes can sometimes seem minor or unimportant, which may be why
so many people don't know they have diabetes.
The symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Frequent urination
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Irritability
- Frequent infections
- Blurred vision
- Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
If you or a loved one has any of the symptoms of diabetes, it's important to
be examined by a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. Diabetes, while not
curable, is a treatable disease that can be managed through a combination of healthy
eating, physical activity, and medications, which may include insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes Info >
Type 2 Diabetes Info
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Myths and Realities
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