What is Diabetes?

Prediabetes is when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal. The numbers aren’t normal but they aren’t high enough to diagnose a person with type 2 diabetes. The pancreas, which makes the hormone insulin, makes more insulin than usual to try and bring your blood sugars down. Insulin is responsible for carrying glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the body’s cells to be used as energy. Glucose (sugar) comes from the food people eat. Overtime, the pancreas may stop overproducing insulin and blood glucose levels may continue to rise eventually leading to type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the cells of the pancreas stop producing insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose into the cells. The risk factors and the development of type 1 diabetes are not fully understood. Genetics play a role along with an environmental trigger – this means that you are at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes if a family member has it, but something in a person’s environment may kick start the disease. At this time the environmental triggers are not clear. Signs and symptoms may develop quickly or take some time to develop. Some common signs and symptoms are: frequent thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unintentional weight loss, fatigue and/or fruity smelling breath.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease resulting in high blood glucose (sugar) or hyperglycemia. High blood glucose levels are a result of the body’s cells no longer being able to properly use glucose (sugar) from the food we eat. Therefore, the glucose (sugar) remains in the bloodstream resulting in high blood glucose levels. In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance occurs; the body’s cells resist the insulin the pancreas is making. And, overtime less insulin is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone needed to carry glucose to the body’s cells for the cells to use as energy. Symptoms usually occur gradually and may include: blurred vision, fatigue, feeling hungry or thirsty, increased urination, slow healing cuts or sores, tingling or numbness in a person’s hands or feet.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is first diagnosed during pregnancy or gestation. During pregnancy, there are extra hormones produced and other factors that may decrease the body’s ability to use insulin properly. This is known as insulin resistance and as a result the body needs more insulin. The lack of sufficient insulin results in high blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia. Post birth a person’s blood glucose levels may normalize, however, there is an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes within the next 5-10 years.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults (LADA) or Type 1.5 Diabetes, is a type of diabetes in which an adult presents as someone with type 2 diabetes but also may have antibodies present (type 1). They do not require insulin at diagnosis. However, the person eventually needs insulin as the body stops producing insulin overtime. LADA patients may be misdiagnosed and treated as a person with Type 2 diabetes.