Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from food. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas which helps glucose get from your food to cells to be used for energy. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin or use it well, glucose stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Over time, too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems.

The two most common types of Diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. With Type 1 Diabetes your body does not make insulin and your immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition and Type 1 Diabetics need insulin every day to stay alive.

With Type 2 Diabetes, the most common type of Diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. It can develop at any age but most often this type of Diabetes occurs in middle age or older people.

Who is affected by Diabetes?

• An estimated 30.3 million people in the United States, or 9.4 percent of the population have Diabetes.
• About 1 in 4 people with Diabetes don’t know they have it.
• An estimated 84.1 million Americans age 18 and older have prediabetes.