Diabetes facts

•   Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
•   Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose.
•   Absence or insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes.
•   The types of diabetes are often called type one & type two. Former names for these conditions were insulin-dependent & non-insulin-dependent diabetes, or juvenile onset & adult onset diabetes.
•   Signs of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, & fatigue.
•   Diabetes is diagnosed by blood sugar (glucose) testing.
•   The major complications of diabetes are both acute & chronic.
•     Acute complications: dangerously elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or abnormally low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) due to diabetes medications
•     Chronic complications: illness of the blood vessels (both tiny & huge) that can damage the feet, eyes, kidneys, nerves, & heart
•   Diabetes treatment depends on the type & severity of the diabetes. Type one diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, as well as a diabetic diet. Type two diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, & exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin & other injectable medications are thought about.