Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body turns food into energy.
It develops when the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar, leading to levels that are too high for too long. Over time, uncontrolled diabetes can damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.
Understanding how diabetes works is key to preventing complications and maintaining long-term health.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the body struggles to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream.
Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move glucose from the blood into the cells.
When this system breaks down, blood sugar builds up instead of being used for energy. This can happen in two main ways:
- Type 1 diabetes: The body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin to survive.
- Type 2 diabetes: The body becomes resistant to insulin or does not make enough of it. This type develops gradually and is much more common, often linked to lifestyle factors.
A third condition, prediabetes, occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range. Without lifestyle changes, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Diabetes?
Diabetes can develop from different causes depending on the type, but most involve a mix of genetic and environmental factors that affect how the body processes insulin.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
- Family history of diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Poor diet high in refined sugars or processed foods
- Chronic stress
- Age over 45
- Gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- Certain medications or medical conditions that affect insulin sensitivity
While type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, type 2 diabetes is often avoidable through healthy habits and early screening.
Common Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms may develop slowly, especially in type 2 diabetes. Common signs include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst or hunger
- Unexplained weight changes
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or infections
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Some people have no symptoms at all, which is why regular testing is essential.
How to Get Tested for Diabetes
Diabetes screening is simple and widely available. It measures your blood sugar levels to determine whether they are within a healthy range.
Common Screening Tests
- Fasting blood sugar test: Measures blood glucose after fasting overnight.
- Hemoglobin A1c test: Reflects your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months.
- Oral glucose tolerance test: Measures how your blood sugar changes after drinking a sweetened liquid.
- Random blood sugar test: Checks glucose levels at any time, regardless of when you last ate.
Take Control of Your Blood Sugar Health
Diabetes is manageable, and in many cases preventable, through early detection and lifestyle changes.
Regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight management, and routine testing are key steps to staying healthy and avoiding complications.