What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Normally, most food is broken down into glucose (sugar). The glucose is absorbed into the blood stream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, must be present for glucose to enter the cells.
People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce is not used effectively by fat, muscle and liver cells. The results are a build up of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which overflows into the urine, passes out of the body, without fulfilling its role as the body's fuel source.
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes (GDM).
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Type 1 Diabetes was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes and may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risks for developing type 1 diabetes may involve autoimmune, genetic and/or environmental factors.
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Type 2 Diabetes was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes and may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risks for developing type 2 diabetes include: older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of GDM, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.
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Gestational Diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies, but usually goes away when the pregnancy is over. GDM occurs more often in certain racial/ethnic groups and obese women are at a higher risk for GDM. Women who have had GDM are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
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Pre-Diabetes, also called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose, occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Having pre-diabetes puts you at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. You are also at increased risk for developing heart disease.