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Diabetes is a disease in which the body has trouble producing or properly using insulin. Insulin is a hormone, excreted by the pancreas, to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy.

Major Types of Diabetes

Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (also called juvenile diabetes)
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) occurs when the pancreatic beta cells become dysfunctional and the body fails to produce insulin. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is caused by insulin resistance in the body. The pancreas produces insulin, but the cell receptors do not respond. Most Americans, about 20.8 million, who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. World wide, more than 150 million people suffer from this disease. Why is diabetes mellitus so common? Too much glucose in our diets leading to too much glucose in our blood.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. This disorder affects about 135,000 pregnant women in the United States each year.

Causes of Diabetes

Lack of exercise and physical activities burning glucose
High simple carbohydrate (starch and sugar) diets
Cells that are overwhelmed by glucose and stop accepting more. They become insulin resistant. Insulin shots force more glucose into the cells. Insulin does not cure DM
Too much glucose in your diet/blood

Symptoms of Diabetes

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Increased fatigue
Unusual weight loss
Irritability, mood swings
Depression
Rapid breathing
Blurry vision
Headaches
Dry, itchy skin
Numbness, pain, or tingling in feet
Slow healing of cuts and bruises
High blood pressure
Frequent infections

Lab tests for Diabetes

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG)¹
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)²

1. In the FPG, a person's blood glucose level is measured after fasting twelve hours.

2. In the OGTT , a person's blood glucose level is measured after fasting twelve hours and then measured again two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage or eating a glucose-rich meal. I

If 2 hr. blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes.

If 2 hr. blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes