Diabetes

What is diabetes?
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).
Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Gestational diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes