November marks National Diabetes Awareness Month, and we’re excited to spread awareness about this important health issue. Diabetes affects millions, and understanding it is the first step toward prevention and management.

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to high blood glucose (sugar) levels. This can cause serious health problems over time, and common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision 

How it works:

• Insulin’s role: Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose from food get into your body’s cells for energy.
• What happens in diabetes: When you have diabetes, either your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin (like in Type 1) or your body doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly (like in Type 2).
• Result: This leaves too much glucose in the blood, which can lead to serious health complications over time, such as nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease. 

Main types of diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It typically develops quickly and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
• Type 2 diabetes: The most common type, accounting for 90-95% of cases. It usually develops over many years and is linked to insulin resistance. Treatment includes diet, exercise, medication, and sometimes insulin.
• Gestational diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and is caused by hormonal changes. It usually resolves after the baby is born but can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes for both mother and child later in life. 

Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing the complications of diabetes.

Take the Type 2 Risk Test

60-Second Risk Test for Type 2 Diabetes