What Is Diabetes?
The short name for the disease called diabetes mellitus. Diabetes results when the body cannot use blood glucose as energy because of having too little insulin or being unable to use insulin. Diabetes begins in the pancreas, an organ in your body.
There are 3 types of diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes so little insulin that the body cant use blood glucose as energy. Type 1 diabetes most often occurs in people younger than age 30 and must be controlled with daily insulin injections.
- Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either makes too little insulin or can't use the insulin it makes to use blood glucose as energy. Some people with type 2 diabetes have to take diabetes pills or insulin.
- Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have not been known to have diabetes before.
There are many symptoms of diabetes:
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Frequent urination |
Blurred vision |
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Fatigue |
Excessive thirst |
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Increased hunger |
Weight loss |
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Slow healing |
Frequent infections |
