Diabetes
[dahy-uh-bee-teez]
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Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot change sugars and starches into energy. As a result, extra sugar in the blood can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, gestational diabetes and lower-extremity amputations. People with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Type 1 diabetes involves autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors and account for approximately 5% of the population with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is often caused by inactivity, poor diet or a family history of diabetes. Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, vision changes and numbness in hands or feet.
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Key Facts
- 26 million Americans are living with diabetes and 79 million more have prediabetes.
- Almost everyone who develops type 2 diabetes has blood sugar higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes initially.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years.
- More than 60% of leg and foot amputations not related to accidents and injuries were performed on people with diabetes.
- The risk for stroke is 2-4 times higher among people with diabetes.
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You are at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes if you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes.
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If you have diabetes, it's important to take care of your feet and the rest of your body. Checking your feet daily can prevent serious problems.
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Talk to your doctor about diabetes, especially if you are pregnant or meet any of the other increased risk criteria. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the U.S., 2-10 will have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy, but one may be more prone to type 2 diabetes later on.
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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of early death among people with diabetes. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely than people without diabetes to die of heart disease or experience a stroke. Also, about 70% of people with diabetes have high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
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In diabetic eye disease, high blood glucose and high blood pressure cause small blood vessels to swell and leak liquid into the retina of the eye, blurring the vision and sometimes leading to blindness. People with diabetes are also more likely to develop cataracts – a clouding of the eye's lens, and glaucoma – optic nerve damage.
Prevention Tips
Prediabetes is a wake-up call that type 2 diabetes could be in your future, but you can still prevent it by changing some habits:
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Lose 5-7 percent of your body weight if you are overweight; that's just 10-14 pounds for a 200-pound person.
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Be active! Get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, dancing or gardening.
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Eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and reduce the number of calories you eat per day.
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Talk to your health care provider about how to manage your blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Page last reviewed: March 3, 2016
- Page last updated: March 3, 2016
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Page maintained by: Office of Associate Director of Communication, Division of Public Affairs