Diabetes

Diabetes affects the way the body uses food. It is caused by a lack of insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas that is essential for converting energy from food. Insulin is necessary for the body to process nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins), and its absence causes high sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. There […]

Type 2 diabetes – the type that mostly affects adults – affects all types of people. However, there are factors that can put you at higher risk for developing the condition: Being overweight (body mass index of 25+) Carrying fat around the waist and stomach Being sedentary Being more than 45 years old (being over

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. That means the body’s defense system attacks some of the body’s own cells. In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, and therefore they are no longer capable of making insulin. We don’t know exactly why this happens, but we do know that some

Diabetes is often diagnosed by measuring fasting glucose levels. If that value is lower than the value necessary to diagnose diabetes but your doctor suspects you still may have diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test may be done. This is a special test that shows how well the body uses glucose. Talk to your doctor

Treating diabetes is a team effort. You (the parents or guardians) and the child are the most important members of this team, working closely with the child’s doctor, who may be a pediatrician or an endocrinologist. In addition, the care team may include: A diabetes educator (often a nurse) A dietitian A psychologist or other

Diabetes can’t be cured, but it can be controlled. The treatment varies according to how much insulin the body makes, and how well the body is able to use available insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their diabetes at first by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Others also

In the early stages, you may be able to control your diabetes without medication, by looking after yourself carefully. But if you are taking medication, taking care of yourself is just as important. It will help the medication work much better. Things you can do to control your diabetes include: Control your weight. For many people

There are now several medications available to treat diabetes. Most are taken in pill form. Different diabetes pills do different things: Help the pancreas make more insulin Help the body’s cells use insulin more efficiently Work with both the pancreas and the cells to control blood sugar levels Slows down the digestion of carbohydrates in

If you have type 1 diabetes, when the body no longer produces insulin, you probably need to take insulin shots every day. With type 2 diabetes, sometimes the pancreas can’t make enough insulin, even with the help of pills. If that happens, you will need to take insulin as well. Need To Know: Insulin has

Keeping track of your blood sugar levels makes your diabetes easier to manage and helps you keep an eye on your condition. Blood sugar that is too high (hyperglycemia) can make you feel sick. You may urinate frequently, become thirsty, have blurring of vision and may get skin infections, eg, boils. And if it stays

A healthy diet is a crucial part of managing diabetes. People who have diabetes should watch: What time they eat (meals and snacks should be about the same time every day) How much they eat (meals and snacks should be about the same size every day) The balance of what they eat at each meal

Hypoglycemia – low blood sugar – can be very unpleasant and sometimes dangerous. It can be caused by: Taking certain diabetes pills (sulfonylureas) without enough food Overexercising if taking insulin or a sulfonylurea Alcohol on an empty stomach Too much insulin The Signs of Hypoglycemia You may feel: Shaky, sweaty, hungry, faint or weak Palpitations,