Diabetes

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic (ongoing) disease in which the body cannot make or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the sugar, or glucose, in your blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for your body.

When you have diabetes, the levels of blood glucose are too high, causing symptoms such as blurred vision, frequent urination, increased thirst, unintended weight loss, slow healing sores, and feelings of hunger and tiredness. But some people with diabetes have no symptoms at all.

Diabetes is a serious disease. Over time, diabetes that is not well controlled causes serious damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart and blood vessels, gums, and teeth.