Diabetes FAQs

If you have diabetes, blood sugar levels in your body are too high, either because your pancreas produces little or no insulin, or because your body has lost the ability to efficiently use the insulin it produces.

Yes, the high levels of blood sugar can damage your circulatory system, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system.

Prediabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, and this can progress to Type 2 diabetes. Even if it doesn’t progress, heightened blood glucose levels may be enough to damage the body. Fortunately, prediabetes can often be reversed through weight loss, a healthier diet, and exercise.

• Type 1 diabetes – The pancreas makes little or no insulin. A person with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin injections to survive. This type is diagnosed most often in people who are under 30 years old.
• Type 2 diabetes – The body makes insulin, but it doesn't work as it should. Nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2. This type occurs most often in people who are overweight.
• Gestational diabetes – Diabetes develops during pregnancy due to an abnormally high sugar level in the mother’s blood. Most women with gestational diabetes don’t remain diabetic after the baby is born. A woman who has had gestational diabetes, though, is at higher risk for developing it again during a future pregnancy and for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

You may be at greater risk to develop diabetes if:

• • You are over age 45.
• You developed gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby that was over 9 pounds.
• You lead a sedentary lifestyle.
• You are overweight or obese.
• You have a family history of diabetes.
• You’re African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American.
• You have prediabetes.

The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are often severe and sudden. These include:

• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth
• A need to urinate often
• Weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Weak, tired feeling
• Blurred vision

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be so subtle you don’t notice them at all, which is why it’s often referred to as a “silent” disease. Symptoms may include:

• Extreme thirst and hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Sores that are slow to heal
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
• Blurry vision
• Frequent infections

Yes, especially if it's not properly treated. You could put yourself at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage if you don't keep the condition under control.

If you’re at risk for diabetes, there are some steps you can take to help slow the progression to Type 2 diabetes – or even potentially prevent yourself from developing it at all. These steps include making lifestyle changes, such as choosing healthier foods like lean meats and plenty of fruits and vegetables and becoming more active.

Prediabetes can often be reversed by following a healthier lifestyle: making good food choices, becoming more active, and losing weight as directed by your physician. These changes may significantly cut your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Once you have Type 2 diabetes, it’s very difficult to reverse. You can, however, learn how to manage your diabetes.

Your doctor can perform blood and urine tests to see if you have diabetes.

No. A cure for diabetes hasn’t yet been found. However, diabetes can be treated and controlled. Most people with diabetes manage their disease and lead normal lives.

Diabetes is managed through proper diet, exercise, and, if needed, medication. People with diabetes must monitor the levels of sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides in their blood at home and during doctor visits. Steps are then taken to keep these levels as normal as possible.

Type 1 diabetes is controlled with:

• Insulin shots
• Meal planning
• Exercise

Type 2 diabetes is controlled with:

• Diet and exercise
• Medicine taken by the mouth
• Insulin shots (in less common cases)