Understanding Diabetes and Your Risk

Reverse Your Risk: Understanding Diabetes - 18 and Older

Today, millions of people in the United States have diabetes, including millions more who do not even know they have the disease. Read more to learn about diabetes and find out if you're at risk...

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

• Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes—about 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.
• Diabetes means that your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. Your blood always has some sugar in it because the body uses sugar for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much sugar in the blood is not good for your health.
• Sugar needs insulin to get into the body's cells. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. If your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work right, the sugar can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This makes your blood sugar level high, causing you to have diabetes.
• In type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but the insulin can't do its job, so sugar is not getting into the cells.

Type 2 Diabetes risk factors & symptoms

Type 2 Diabetes risk factors include:

• Parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
• Family background of Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
• History of gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High levels of "bad" (LDL) and/or low levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol
• Fairly inactive lifestyle and/or exercise fewer than three times a week
• Cardiovascular disease

Type 2 diabetes occurs most frequently in people who:

• are over age 45
• are overweight or obese - about 70 percent of women, and 50 percent of men, who have diabetes are obese

Type 2 Diabetes symptoms include:

• increased thirst
• increased hunger
• fatigue
• increased urination, especially at night
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• sores that do not heal

Talk to your health care provider about these and other risk factors. A simple blood test will tell you if you are diabetic or at risk of developing diabetes.

Resources on Diabetes

• Diabetes FAQ - Discusses frequently asked questions about Diabetes.
• Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? - Learn more about Type 2 Diabetes and steps you can take to reduce your risk!
• Small Steps. Big Rewards - Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and see how physical activity can decrease your risk.




Stop Diabetes: 50 Simple Steps You Can Take at Any Age to Reduce Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes