|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Diabetes Patient Fact Sheet

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease associated with your body's ability to process nutrients from food for energy. There are multiple types of diabetes and a number of ways to treat the disease, depending upon your lifestyle and disease type. It is important to speak with a physician regarding the best treatment plan options.

  1. What is Diabetes?

    • Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a metabolic disorder involving the pancreas that affects the body's metabolic capacity for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Diabetes is distinguished by high levels of blood glucose and results from a decrease in insulin and/or a decrease in the ability to target organs to respond to insulin.

    Types

    • The American Diabetes Association defines two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. They differ in many characteristics, such as incidence rates, insulin response, genetic basis and accompanying diseases.

    Type 1 Diabetes

    • In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys pancreatic beta-cells, which produce insulin, and the patient must therefore have insulin delivered manually. Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, typically develops in children and young adults.

    Type 2 Diabetes

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of diagnosed patients. Type 2 diabetes typically begins with insulin resistance and eventually progresses to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is generally associated with advanced age, obesity, impaired glucose metabolism and physical inactivity.

    Hyperglycemia

    • Hyperglycemia is defined as any blood glucose concentration above normal and is a key element of diabetes. Blood glucose levels are used to diagnose diabetes, and keeping the levels as close to normal as possible is one of the major aims of treatment.

    Treatment

    • Individuals with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by an injection or a pump. For type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels can generally be controlled by following a diet and exercise plan in conjunction with oral medication.

Diabetes - Related Articles