Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both.
To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested:
A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.
People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because:
Their pancreas does not make enough insulin
Their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally
Both of the above
There are three major types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role.
Type 2 diabetes (11 images)
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Type 2 diabetes is a chronic(lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It begins when the body does not respond correctly to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas. Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (6/17/2008).Date: 12/12/2008
Type 1 diabetes (5 images)
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Type 1 diabetes is a chronic(lifelong) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels.Insulin-dependent diabetes; Juvenile onset diabetes; Diabetes- type 1.Diabetes is a lifelong diseas...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 06/17/2008
Gestational diabetes (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar( diabetes) that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy.Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 10/28/2008
Diabetes insipidus (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the kidneys are unable to conserve water.Diabetes insipidus(DI) is an uncommon condition that occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of filtering blood. The am...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/18/2008
Glucose test - blood (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar(glucose) in a sample of your blood.Random blood sugar; Blood sugar level; Fasting blood sugar.Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2009
Hypoglycemia (1 image)
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Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar(glucose) is too low.Your body''s sugar(glucose) is used up too quickly Glucose is released into the bloodstream too slowly Too much insulin is released into the bloodstream.Insulin is a ...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
Diabetes diet (1 image)
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Specific diabetic dietary guidelines have been developed by the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association to improve the management of diabetes.Reviewer: Patrika Tsai, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/23/2008
Diabetes foot care (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Foot care for diabeticsIf you have diabetes you are more likely to have to foot problems. Diabetes can damage your nerves (See: Diabetic neuropathy). Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
Diabetic ketoacidosis (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes that occurs when sugar(glucose) is not available as a fuel source by the body and fat is used instead. Byproducts of fat breakdown, called ketones, build up in the body.People with Type I diabete...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
Diabetes risk factors (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Risk factors for diabetesYou have a higher risk for diabetes if you have any of the following:Age greater than 45 yearsDiabetes during a previous pregnancyExcess body weight (especially around the waist)Family history of diabetesGiven birth to a b...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
Diabetes insipidus - central (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Central diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that involves extreme thirst and excessive urination.Reviewer: Robert Cooper, MD, Endocinology Specialist and Chief of Medicine, Holyoke Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/28/2008
Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the kidneys can''t conserve water, leading to excessive water loss.Reviewer: Charles Silberberg, DO, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with NY Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/14/2007
Diabetes insipidus - nephrogenic (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The tubules allow water to be removed from the body or reabsorbed.Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; Acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus occurs when the kidney tubules do not respond to a chemical in the body called...Reviewer: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/14/2008
Diabetes - resources (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The following sites provide further information on diabetes: American Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International - www.jdrf.org; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - www.cdc.gov/diabetes; National Diabetes Education Program - http/ndep.nih.gov; National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. See the following for information on diabetes-related complications: Blindness resources; Kidney disease resources. Reviewer: Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/02/2009
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