What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables.

To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.

You have diabetes because either:  

1- Your body makes too little or no insulin. This is called Type 1 diabetes;  

2- Your body can’t use the insulin it makes. This is called Type 2 diabetes.

With little or no insulin, glucose burlds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. This causes high blood glucose levels. When your body does not get enough glucose for fuel you may feel:

• tired
• like you need to urinate often
• thirsty
• moody
• hungrier

 You may also:  

• lose a lot of weight
• have blurry vision
• get infections

How do I find out which type of diabetes I have?

 Your doctor will tell you what type of diabetes you have and what you need to do. You can also ask your doctor to refer you to a diabetes education centre. These centres have trained health professionals who can teach you about diabetes and insulin.

 Is diabetes serious?

 Yes. If diabetes is not controlled it can cause kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, impotence, and may lead to amputation.

The Good News.

 By keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, you can live a long and healthy life with diabetes.