Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. This happens when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. This happens when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type usually develops in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
- Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it. This type usually develops in adulthood, and risk factors include obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, and genetics. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed through lifestyle changes, medication, and insulin therapy if necessary.
Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing of cuts and bruises, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.
See also: all definitions