DIABETES

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high levels of blood glucose (or blood
sugar), which over time leads to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and
nerves.

Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) disease that affects the way the body converts food into
energy.

Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (also called glucose) and releases it
into your bloodstream. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which acts as a key
that allows blood sugar to enter the body's cells so they can use it for energy.

With diabetes, your body does not produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it
does produce. When there is not enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much
sugar remains in the bloodstream, and over time this can cause serious health problems, such
as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. .

There is no cure for diabetes yet, but losing weight, eating healthy foods, and being active can
really help. Other things you can do:

Take the medication as prescribed.

Get education and support for diabetes self-management

Make and attend health care appointments.

Types of diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational
diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).

Diabetes type 1

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake). This
reaction prevents your body from producing insulin. About 5 to 10% of people who have
diabetes have type 1. The symptoms of this diabetes usually appear quickly. It is generally
diagnosed in children, adolescents and young adults. People who have type 1 diabetes must
receive insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

With type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly and cannot keep blood sugar at
normal levels. Approximately 90 to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It is a
process that evolves over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (although it is
increasingly occurring in children, adolescents and young adults). You may not feel any
symptoms; Therefore, it is important to get your blood sugar levels tested if you are at risk.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
Lose weight if you are overweight.

Have a healthy diet.

Do physical activity regularly.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have
gestational diabetes, your baby may be at higher risk for health complications. Gestational
diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. However, it increases your risk of having
type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to be obese as a child or teenager and to
develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Prediabetes

In the United States, 96 million adults (more than 1 in 3) have prediabetes. What's worse,
more than 8 out of 10 of them don't know they have it. With prediabetes, blood sugar levels
are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes
increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. But there is good news. If you
have prediabetes, a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program can help you take healthy steps
to reverse it.