What is diabetes?

What does diabetes mean?

Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It develops when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively.^[1] Insulin helps glucose move from the blood into cells, where it can be used for energy.

A diagnosis describes a health condition, not a person's effort or character. Understanding the type of diabetes and the plan you have been given is a useful starting point. If a word is unfamiliar, ask your care team to explain it using your own results or treatment.

How do the main types of diabetes differ?

The main types include type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, and they do not all require the same care. In type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin effectively and may not make enough. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy.^[1]

These short descriptions do not identify which type someone has. Ask the professional responsible for your diagnosis to explain your type and whether any further assessment is needed. Other, less common types also exist.

What causes the different types of diabetes?

The causes differ by type. Type 1 diabetes involves the immune system damaging insulin-producing cells. Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance and insufficient insulin, with family history and other risk factors contributing.^[1] These differences matter when a clinician explains your diagnosis.

The NIDDK guide to diabetes types gives more background. Ask which explanation applies to your own type rather than treating all diabetes as the same condition.

Why do regular diabetes reviews matter?

Regular reviews help your care team monitor diabetes and discuss ways to reduce complications. Persistently high blood glucose can affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.^[1] Your care plan should explain which checks you need and when.

Ask which reviews are due and who arranges them. The diabetes treatment overview explains the wider care discussion; it does not set an individual review schedule.

How is diabetes identified?

Blood tests, rather than symptoms alone, are used to diagnose diabetes.^[2] A clinician interprets the results alongside your circumstances and decides whether further testing is needed.

The guide to diabetes diagnosis explains the kinds of questions to ask about testing. The separate page on diabetes symptoms covers changes people may notice. Keeping these topics separate makes it easier to find the answer you need.

What should I understand after a diagnosis?

Understand your type of diabetes, the purpose of your care plan and who to contact with questions. Ask for written instructions if you are unsure what happens after the appointment.

You could begin with:

• Which type of diabetes do I have, and how was it confirmed?
• What should I do first, and what can we discuss at the next review?
• Which results or symptoms should make me seek help?
• Who can explain food, medicines or everyday routines in more detail?

For the wider care picture, read the diabetes treatment overview. For an everyday food question, start with the guide to eating with diabetes. Those pages provide background and conversation prompts, while your care team sets your individual plan.

How can I understand the everyday parts of diabetes care?

Everyday diabetes care brings together medicines, food, activity, checking and support. The diabetes treatment overview explains how these parts fit an individual plan.^[1] Read about eating with diabetes or diabetes distress when one of those questions feels more relevant.

Where should I look for diabetes resources?

Choose diabetes resources around the question you want to answer: understanding a report, preparing an appointment, finding diabetes education or exploring support. Use diabetes blogs for a focused everyday question. Use diabetes patient questions for anonymized, aggregated shared themes, not evidence about how common a symptom is.