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. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test . Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.

Pre-diabetes

* Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
* Diabetes Prevention Program
* Small Steps, Big Rewards: Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2

* Diabetes Diagnosis

Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the body cannot maintain normal blood glucose levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. When the body does not produce enough insulin, the blood glucose level rises. Three main types of diabetes affect Australians - type 1 (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes), type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Diabetes affects over 900,000 Australians, and many of these are not aware they have the disease. If undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attack, stroke and impotence.