Diabetes At A Glance

• Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
  
  
• Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose.
  
  
• Absence or insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes.
  
  
• The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent).
  
  
• Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst and hunger as well as fatigue.
  
  
• Diabetes is diagnosed by blood sugar (glucose) testing.
  
  
• The major complications of diabetes are both acute and chronic.
  
  
  • Acutely: dangerously elevated blood sugar, abnormally low blood sugar due to diabetes medications may occur.
    
    
  • Chronically: disease of the blood vessels (both small and large) which can damage the eye, kidneys, nerves, and heart may occur
    
  
  
• Diabetes treatment depends on the type and severity of the diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.