Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells.

Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia). Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues

Criteria for Diagnosing Diabetes Topic Overview

To be diagnosed with diabetes, you must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Have symptoms of diabetes (increased thirst, increased urination, and unexplained weight loss) and a blood sugar level equal to or greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The blood sugar test is done at any time, without regard for when you last ate (random plasma glucose test or random blood sugar test).

2. Have a fasting blood sugar level that is equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL. A fasting blood sugar test (fasting plasma glucose) is done after not eating or drinking anything but water for 8 hours.

3. Have a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) result that is equal to or greater than 200 mg/dL. An OGTT is most commonly done to check for diabetes that occurs with pregnancy (gestational diabetes).

4. Have a hemoglobin A1c that is 6.5% or higher. This test is most reliable for adults. Some experts recommend using one of the other tests to diagnose diabetes in children.

5. This test may not be appropriate for everyone because many things can affect the life span of red blood cells, such as the second or third trimester of pregnancy, a recent blood loss or a blood transfusion, sickle cell disease, hemodialysis, or erythropoietin (ESA) medicine.

American Diabetes Association (2014). Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care, 37 (Suppl 1): S81–S90. DOI: 10.2337/dc14-S081. Accessed April 27, 2017.

There are three main types of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational

1. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. When you have type 1 diabetes, your body produces very little or no insulin, which means that you need daily insulin injections to maintain blood glucose levels under control. Learn more.

2. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make good use of the insulin that it produces. The cornerstone of type 2 diabetes treatment is healthy lifestyle, including increased physical activity and healthy diet. However, over time most people with type 2 diabetes will require oral drugs and/or insulin to keep their blood glucose levels under control. Learn more.

3. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a type of diabetes that consists of high blood glucose during pregnancy and is associated with complications to both mother and child. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women affected and their children are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Learn more.

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

A family history of diabetes
Overweight
An inactive lifestyle
ver 45 years old
African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander heritage
History of gestational diabetes or having a baby weighing over 9 pounds

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes:

Frequent urination
Increased thirst
Increased appetite
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Slowly healing infections or wounds
Pain, numbness or tingling in the feet

Progression of Type 2 Diabetes

For those with a family history of type 2 diabetes, weight gain and an inactive lifestyle can increase insulin resistance. As insulin resistance increases, your body fights to maintain normal blood sugar levels. It does this by increasing the amount of insulin made in the pancreas. During this phase you may develop pre-diabetes (glucose intolerance). The extra insulin helps for a while, but eventually your pancreas becomes tired and can no longer produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugars. It is at this point you may be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Over time, the pancreas of people with type 2 diabetes may naturally lose its ability to make insulin. Therefore it is expected that you may move from controlling diabetes with meal planning and exercise to adding oral medications and possibly insulin. Remember, it is most important to maintain normal blood sugars, and you may need to add oral medication or insulin to meal planning and physical activity