diabetes awareness and action

DIABETES 101

Learn about the basics of diabetes from the most reliable source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What is Diabetes?

Empty lecture room.
  • Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
  • Food is broken down into sugar and released into the bloodstream.
  • When blood sugar goes up, it signals the pancreas to release insulin.
  • Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.
    • Woman participating in an online meeting.
  • If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should.
  • When there isn’t enough insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream.
  • Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
  • There isn’t a cure yet for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, being active and taking medication if needed, can be really helpful.
  • Type 1 diabetes has no cure, and can’t be prevented. Insulin must be used everyday.

    • Risk Factors

    A smiling family.
  • Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Known risk factors include:
    • Family history: Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 1 diabetes.
    • Age: You can get type 1 diabetes at any age, but it’s more likely to develop when you’re a child, teen, or young adult.
    • Race/ethnicity: In the United States, whites are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes than African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans.
  • Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.
    • A smiling family with the grandfather in focus.
  • You’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes if you:
    • Have prediabetes
    • Are overweight
    • Are 45 years or older
    • Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
    • Are physically active less than 3 times a week
    • Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
    • Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
  • If you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease you may also be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
  • You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes such as losing weight if you’re overweight, eating healthier, and getting regular physical activity.
    • Overweight man measuring his belly.
  • You’re at risk for developing prediabetes if you:
    • Are overweight
    • Are 45 years or older
    • Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
    • Are physically active less than 3 times a week
    • Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
    • Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
  • You can prevent or reverse prediabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes such as losing weight if you’re overweight, eating healthier, and getting regular physical activity.
    • Pregnant woman holding her belly.
  • You’re at risk for developing gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) if you:
    • Had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
    • Have given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
    • Are overweight
    • Are more than 25 years old
    • Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
    • Have a hormone disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
    • Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
  • Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen, and is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life too.
  • Before you get pregnant, you may be able to prevent gestational diabetes by losing weight if you’re overweight, eating healthier, and getting regular physical activity.

    • Symptoms

    Woman drinking water from a glass.
  • If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
    • Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night
    • Are very thirsty
    • Lose weight without trying
    • Are very hungry
    • Have blurry vision
    • Have numb or tingling hands or feet
    • Feel very tired
    • Have very dry skin
    • Have sores that heal slowly
    • Have more infections than usual
    Pregnant woman holding her belly in pain.
  • People who have type 1 diabetes may also have nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop in just a few weeks or months and can be severe. Type 1 diabetes usually starts when you’re a child, teen, or young adult but can happen at any age.
  • Type 2 diabetes symptoms often take several years to develop. Some people don’t notice any symptoms at all. Type 2 diabetes usually starts when you’re an adult, though more and more children and teens are developing it.
  • Gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) usually doesn’t have any symptoms. If you’re pregnant, your doctor should test you for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

    • Prediabetes

    Traffic light on yellow.
  • Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
  • Approximately 88 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don’t know they have it.
  • Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
    • Diagram of insulin in the body.
  • If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond.
  • Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road.
    • Man jogging down the street.
  • If you have prediabetes, losing a small amount of weight if you’re overweight and getting regular physical activity can lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • A small amount of weight loss means around 5% to 7% of your body weight, just 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Regular physical activity means getting at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or a similar activity. That’s just 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

    • Type 1 Diabetes

    Dice-like cubes spelling 'DIABETES TYPE 1'.
  • If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin.
  • Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age.
  • Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2—approximately 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
  • Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed by following your doctor’s recommendations for living a healthy lifestyle, managing your blood sugar, getting regular health checkups, and getting diabetes self-management education and support.
    • Father talking to his son.
  • Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
  • Some people have certain genes (traits passed on from parent to child) that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, though many won’t go on to have type 1 diabetes even if they have the genes.
  • Being exposed to a trigger in the environment, such as a virus, is also thought to play a part in developing type 1 diabetes. Diet and lifestyle habits don’t cause type 1 diabetes.
    • Woman holding an insulin pen against her stomach.
  • If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin shots (or wear an insulin pump) every day to manage your blood sugar levels and get the energy your body needs.
  • You’ll also need to check your blood sugar regularly. Ask your doctor how often you should check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be.
  • Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder, including managing your blood sugar levels and dealing with daily diabetes care.

    • Type 2 Diabetes

    Dice-like cubes spelling 'DIABETES TYPE 2'.
  • If you have type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond.
  • Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
  • High blood sugar is damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
    • Man and woman in close conversation.
  • More than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and approximately 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes.
  • Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45, but more and more children, teens, and young adults are also developing it.
    • Diabetes educator working with patient.
  • You may be able to manage your diabetes with healthy eating and being active, or your doctor may prescribe insulin, other injectable medications, or oral diabetes medicines to help manage your blood sugar and avoid complications.
  • You’ll still need to eat healthy and be active if you take insulin or other medicines. It’s also important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol close to the targets your doctor sets for you and get necessary screening tests.
  • You’ll need to check your blood sugar regularly. Ask your doctor how often you should check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be.
  • Whether you were just diagnosed with diabetes or have had it for some time, meeting with a diabetes educator is a great way to get support and guidance, including how to:
    • Develop a healthy eating and activity plan
    • Test your blood sugar and keep a record of the results
    • Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar and what to do about it
    • If needed, give yourself insulin by syringe, pen, or pump
    • Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early
    • Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly
    • Manage stress and deal with daily diabetes care
    Girl looking down as a girl in background sneers at her.
  • Childhood obesity rates are rising, and so are the rates of type 2 diabetes in youth.
  • More than 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a close relative who has it, too. But it’s not always because family members are related; it can also be because they share certain habits that can increase their risk.
  • Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family:
    • Drinking more water and fewer sugary drinks
    • Eating more fruits and vegetables
    • Making favorite foods healthier
    • Making physical activity more fun

    Gestational

    Woman smiling at her pregnant belly.
  • Gestational diabetes occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy.
  • During pregnancy, your body makes more hormones and goes through other changes, such as weight gain.
  • These changes cause your body’s cells to use insulin less effectively.
  • All pregnant women have some insulin resistance during late pregnancy. However, some women have insulin resistance even before they get pregnant.
  • Naturally insulin resistant women start pregnancy with an increased need for insulin and are more likely to have gestational diabetes.
    • Doctor holding a stethoscope against a pregnant stomach.
  • Having gestational diabetes can increase your risk of having a large baby that needs to be delivered by cesarean section (C-section).
  • If you have gestational diabetes, your baby is at higher risk of:
    • Being very large (9 pounds or more), which can make delivery more difficult
    • Being born early, which can cause breathing and other problems
    • Having low blood sugar
    • Developing type 2 diabetes later in life
    Mother hugging her baby.
  • About 50% of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
  • You can lower your risk by reaching a healthy body weight after delivery.

    • Diabetes Tests

    Pencil held above a multiple-choice test.
  • Testing is simple, and results are usually available quickly.
  • You’ll need to get your blood sugar tested to find out for sure if you have prediabetes or type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes.
    • Blood sugar test.
  • Your doctor will have you take one or more of the following blood tests to confirm the diagnosis:
  • A1C Test: measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2 or 3 months.
  • Fasting Blood Sugar Test: measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating).
  • Glucose Tolerance Test: measures your blood sugar before and after you drink a liquid that contains glucose. You’ll fast (not eat) overnight before the test and have your blood drawn to determine your fasting blood sugar level. Then you’ll drink the liquid and have your blood sugar level checked 1 hour, 2 hours, and possibly 3 hours afterward.
  • Random Blood Sugar Test: measures your blood sugar at the time you’re tested. You can take this test at any time and don’t need to fast (not eat) first.
    • If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also tested for autoantibodies that are often present in type 1 diabetes.
    • You may have your urine tested for ketones, which also indicate type 1 diabetes
    Assortment of glucose drinks.
  • Gestational diabetes is diagnosed using blood tests.
  • You’ll probably be tested between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If your risk is higher for getting gestational diabetes, your doctor may test you earlier.
  • Blood sugar that’s higher than normal early in your pregnancy may indicate you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes rather than gestational diabetes.


  • Glucose Screening Test: measures your blood sugar at the time you’re tested. You’ll drink a liquid that contains glucose, and then 1 hour later your blood will be drawn to check your blood sugar level.
  • Glucose Tolerance Test: This measures your blood sugar before and after you drink a liquid that contains glucose. You’ll fast (not eat) overnight before the test and have your blood drawn to determine your fasting blood sugar level.

    • STOP THE PROGRESS

  • Prediabetes is serious!
  • Blood sugar levels are starting to go up.
  • out of 3 people have prediabetes, and 8 out of 10 don’t know it. Prediabetes often leads to type 2 diabetes.
  • 50% of seniors have prediabetes.
  • If you have prediabetes, you can prevent or delay prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes that we talk about on our self-management page.

    • COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DIABETES

    Graphic displaying long and short term diabetes complications.

    Do more...

    prevention

    TESTIMONIAL: US SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW

    Testimonial screenshot from Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan.

    “It was exciting to learn about the success of your recent "Diabetes Awareness And Action" project and your efforts to expand the program through the Lions International Foundation.”