Basic Diabetes Information

Diabetes facts-at-a-glance
What is diabetes?
What is insulin?
What is Type 1 diabetes? What is Type 2 diabetes?
What is pre-diabetes?
Is there a cure for diabetes?
Does eating sugar cause diabetes?
What is a glucose meter? Why is it important to own a glucose meter and test blood sugar regularly?
What should be my target blood sugar goals be with diabetes?
Once I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, if I lose weight and watch what I am eating will my diabetes go away?
How do I find a diabetes education program?
Is diabetes education/self-management training covered (reimbursed) by my health plan?
How is diabetes diagnosed?
If my mother or father has diabetes will I get it as well?
What can happen to me if I do not take care of my diabetes?

Diabetes facts-at-a-glance

Warning Signs and Symptoms

  • Frequent urination
  • Excessive thirst
  • Extreme hunger
  • Unusual weight loss
  • Increased fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Blurry vision
  • Vomiting
  • Slow healing sores
  • Excessive body weight
  • Tingling or numbness in the feet
  • Sexual difficulties

If you or anyone that you know is experiencing any of these warning symptoms, contact your doctor and ask to be tested for diabetes.

Factors That Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

  • Excessive body weight
  • Not physically active
  • Family member with diabetes
  • Women who have a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth
  • Over 45 years of age

Diagnosis of Diabetes

  • Lab fasting blood glucose above 126 mg/dl on 2 separate tests
  • Lab blood glucose above 200 mg/dl anytime of the day without consideration of when the last meal was eaten.

Diagnosis of Pre-Diabetes

  • Lab fasting blood glucose above 100 but less than 126.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the metabolism. People who have diabetes either do not produce enough insulin as they use to, or no longer produce any insulin at all.

What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas (an organ that lies behind the stomach) to keep blood sugar regulated throughout the day. Insulin attaches to the outside of the body cells and allows glucose to leave the bloodstream and enter the cells. In diabetes there is not enough insulin action. Insulin injections may be needed to lower blood glucose. Insulin cannot be taken as a pill because it would be destroyed by digestive enzymes. A simple way of understanding how insulin works is to think of it as a key. The only way glucose (sugar) can be absorbed in our bodies is if insulin attaches to the cells in our bodies and opens the cell doors to let glucose enter. That way glucose can be used as energy right then or stored for later energy use.

What is Type 1 diabetes? What is Type 2 diabetes?

With Type 1 diabetes the body is no longer able to make any insulin on its own. Causes of Type 1 diabetes include: (1) family history, (2) a virus which injures the pancreas, reducing the pancreas' ability to make insulin; the body's immune system in response to the virus mistakenly attacks the insulin producing cells and over time these cells are destroyed. Type 1 diabetes requires that the individual take insulin (via injections) everyday. Type 1 diabetes is usually seen in children and young adults, but it can develop in older adults as well.

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2. People with Type 2 diabetes are still able to produce their own insulin, but the body may not recognize the insulin like it used to, and over time there is a decline in insulin production by the pancreas, leading to the possible necessity of insulin therapy.

The causes of Type 2 diabetes include: (1) Family history, (2) Overweight/inactive, (3) Belonging to a high risk ethnic or racial group such as Native-American, African-American, Latino, Asian-American, or Pacific Islander. Women who have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or deliver a baby weighing more than 9 pounds also have an increased chance of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

What is pre-diabetes?

The diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not mean that a person has diabetes. Pre-diabetes occurs when a person's blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetic. Pre-diabetes is more of a warning or an alert that if lifestyle changes do not occur such as increasing exercise, decreasing food portion sizes, weight loss, etc., the person will eventually end up getting Type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Society provides education services to those patients with pre-diabetes in order to assist them in adopting a healthier lifestyle. By changing habits and sticking to them, the person with pre-diabetes can usually prevent getting Type 2 diabetes or halt its progression for many years.

Is there a cure for diabetes?

A cure for diabetes has not yet been discovered. However diabetes can be treated and controlled with diet, exercise, blood glucose monitoring and medication (oral medications and or insulin) as needed.

Does eating sugar cause diabetes?

Eating sugar in and of itself does not cause diabetes. But eating a lot of sugar can lead to obesity (which is a risk factor for diabetes) and tooth decay. Once a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, too much sugar consumed at one time can lead to elevated blood glucose levels which over time can lead to diabetes complications.

The Diabetes Society has information available on carbohydrate (including sugar) content in popular foods.

What is a glucose meter? Why is it important to own a glucose meter and test blood sugar regularly?

The Diabetes Society offers free meters and testing instructions to all patients. A glucose meter is a device used to test your blood sugar. It requires a small blood sample in order to be able to tell you what your blood sugar reading is at any given time. Glucose meters can be purchased at most drug stores or grocery stores. The meters are usually located in the pharmacy area. Testing with a glucose meter is the only tool that can currently test an individual's blood sugar quickly and accurately and is easy to attain. The reason you want to test is because this is the only tool that will let you know how different foods affect your blood sugar readings, and also how your medications are working.

What should be my target blood sugar goals be with diabetes?

Fasting = 80 - 130 mg/dl (fasting means when you wake up in the morning before you eat or drink anything, you test your blood sugar; fasting typically means 8 hours without food or drink).

Pre-meal = 80 -130 mg/dl (pre-meal means you are testing before a meal, such as lunch or dinner).

2 hours after a meal = less than 160 mg/dl (this test allows you to see how the food you ate affects your blood sugar, allowing you to determine what portion size works for you in achieving your glucose level goals. Remember that 2 hours after meal begins when you start your first bite of food. For example if you start eating dinner at 6 pm you will test at 8 pm).

Bedtime = 110 - 140 mg/dl.

You can receive free testing booklets used to record blood glucose numbers and/or have your meter numbers computer downloaded and receive comprehensive printed reports by visiting the Diabetes Society.

Target blood sugar ranges may vary for people who are unable to detect low blood sugars, young children, elderly people, women who are pregnant, or people with serious medical conditions. Please consult your healthcare team to specifically determine what your glucose goals should be and how often you should be testing your blood sugar.

Once I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, if I lose weight and watch what I am eating will my diabetes go away?

Once you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you have it for life - it does not go away. However, with diet, weight loss, and exercise your blood sugars will improve. Your diabetes will appear to be in a remission state - which is a great goal to achieve. But as soon as you go back to old lifestyle habits like inactivity, high carbohydrate/high caloric meals, not testing your glucose regularly, and so on your glucose levels will begin to rise. So you always want to stay vigilant in regards to your diabetes self management skills.

How do I find a diabetes education program?

Please contact us at (408) 287-3785 to enroll in our ADA recognized program. To locate educators outside the area, there are several options on how to locate a diabetes education program. You can find a diabetes program by going to the following links/websites:

Contacting your local hospital or health care provider to recommend a nearby diabetes education program is an option as well. It is important to think of diabetes education as a life-long learning experience. It is not a one-time appointment.

Is diabetes education/self-management training covered (reimbursed) by my health plan?

Medicare covers 80% of the costs of education (within limits) and you can call us for more information. The Diabetes Society also has contracts with many insurance plans, IPAs and HMOs such as Santa Clara County Individual Practice Association (SCCIPA), Physicians Medical Group (PMG), Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP-managed care medi-cal), and Valley Health Plan (VHP). These plans generally cover our programs with a minimal (co-pay) cost to you. More and more health plans are seeing that covering the cost of diabetes education and/or nutrition counseling (known as medical nutrition therapy) is beneficial. The best advice is to call the 800 number on the back of your health plan card to determine what they pay for in regards to diabetes self-management training.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Diabetes is diagnosed by having two blood glucose tests that are higher than normal. These should be taken on two different days. Fasting blood glucose must be higher than 126 mg/dl and Random (any time of day) must be higher than 200 mg/dl. Two high blood glucose levels are enough to diagnose diabetes. Keep in mind there is no such thing as "borderline diabetes" or a "touch of sugar"- either you have diabetes or you don't. Pre-diabetes is diagnosed by having a fasting blood glucose level between 100 mg/dl - 125 mg/dl and is what used to be referred to as "borderline diabetes."

If my mother or father has diabetes will I get it as well?

Diabetes can be inherited. If your parent has been diagnosed with diabetes there is an increased chance of you developing the disease. However, it does not mean that you will definitely develop diabetes - it simply means you are at a higher risk of developing diabetes over someone else whose parent does not have a history of diabetes.

What can happen to me if I do not take care of my diabetes?

If you do not have good control of your diabetes over time, the following complications can and most likely will occur:

  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Eye damage and blindness
  • Kidney disease
  • Neuropathy (nerve damage)
  • Poor circulation
  • Stroke
  • Gum disease
  • Serious infections in feet (often requiring amputation)

But, with proper care and attention you can lead a happy and healthy life - complication free.