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What is Diabetes
You may have heard of diabetes but do you know what it is? Some people are diabetic because their bodies are not producing enough insulin or their bodies don’t properly use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that your body produces to help you digest sugar.
Are you at risk?
If you’re overweight, have heart disease, or have high blood pressure, you’re at a greater risk of developing diabetes. You’re also at risk if you have a family history of it or if you don’t exercise regularly.
Do you know what to look for?
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor and ask if you should be tested for diabetes:
- Always tired
- Always hungry or thirsty
- Urinating often
- Blurry vision
- Slow-healing cuts
Types of Diabetes
There are three major types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. It is important to understand which type you have and how to manage it. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure.
- Usually diagnosed in children and young adults but can happen at any age
- The body makes little or no insulin
- Treated with insulin, diet and physical activity
- This type is permanent but taking care of your diabetes will help you feel better and stay healthy
- Most common form of diabetes
- The body does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal
- You need to manage glucose control with diet, weight control and exercise
- Pills may be added to control glucose levels
- You may need insulin if diet, exercise and pills don’t control your Type 2 diabetes
- This type is permanent but taking care of your diabetes will help you feel better and stay healthy
- A special kind of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy
- Changes that occur in your body while you’re pregnant cause your blood sugar to be too high
- This type makes moms more susceptible to be diagnosed with diabetes later on in life
- You can take steps to control your blood sugar and reduce these risks
- This type often goes away after the baby is born but might not