What is Diabetes?

To put it simply, you have Diabetes Mellitus when too much glucose is circulating in your blood stream. Glucose, also known as sugar, is an important and necessary fuel for our bodies. So necessary, that both the liver and the kidneys produce it naturally; however, we get the most glucose from the foods we eat.

Blood sugar levels normally stay in a certain range. In other words, your body has a system that regulates how much glucose is circulating in your blood stream. That system centers on a hormone called insulin, which is released from cells located in the pancreas.

Insulin speeds up the transfer of glucose from your blood and delivers it into your muscle, liver and fat tissues where it is used as fuel or stored for your body to use later.

Common Diabetes symptoms include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Excessive thirst or hunger
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Muscle cramps

The onset of these symptoms may be gradual or sudden. Generally over time, they persist to the point that the person seeks medical advice. It is then that Diabetes is diagnosed. Diabetes can only be diagnosed by a health care provider. If you think you may have Diabetes, you should seek urgent medical evaluation.

• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• More about the body and blood glucose

Types of Diabetes

There are many types of Diabetes. Learn more about your type of Diabetes or look at the classification table to see a comprehensive list.

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Gestational
• Other
• Classification table

Causes of Diabetes

Read more about how different types of Diabetes develop: what are the risk factors, what is the process that leads to Diabetes.

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes

Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin given by injection is the central treatment for Type 1 Diabetes. There are fast-acting and long-acting insulin formulations. It is important to understand when to use these different formulations and the concepts behind choosing the right insulin dose. There is one other injected medication for Type 1 Diabetes, Symlin, that may be given in addition to insulin.

• Insulin
  • What is insulin
  • Types
  • Injecting
  • Dosing
  • Storage
• Other non-insulin medications

Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

The treatment for Type 2 Diabetes may be a simple as lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and weight management) with one or two pills to many different pills and/or insulin or other injected medications. Your medical team will help you decide the best choices for you.

• Non-insulin therapies, pills and other injecatbles
• Insulin

Find out if the treatment is working

Blood glucose monitoring lets you know if the treatment plan is working and if you are achieving the goals of therapy. Keeping a logbook helps everyone review and assess the results.

• Blood glucose targets
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Ketones
• Logbooks

Diet and Nutrition

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is another important part of living with Diabetes. The first thing you need to understand is which foods have sugar and starch (carbohydrates).

• Basic nutrition
• What is a carbohydrate?
• Quick carbohydrate counting

Managing blood glucose

When your blood glucose is too high or too low, you need to understand the symptoms and what to do. Some situations require urgent medical attention. Here's how to manage your blood glucose.

• Low blood glucose
• High blood glucose
• Problem solve high and low blood sugars

​Practical tips

Everyday tips for how to live safely with Diabetes:

• Medical Alert
• What to carry with you
• When to check ketones
• Assembling your Medical Team
• Prescriptions
• Sick Days
• Traveling
• Driving and Diabetes
• Avoid common mistakes (when you are taking insulin)

Diabetes FAQs

Everyone who has just been diagnosed with Diabetes has some questions.

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes