Diabetes is a disorder that affects the body’s ability to make or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that allows the body’s cells to process glucose (blood sugar) for energy.

Diabetes results in abnormal levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This can cause severe short-term and long-term consequences ranging from insulin shock to heart conditions and sexual dysfunction.

Forms of diabetes include:

• Type 1 diabetes. An autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-making cells of the pancreas and usually occurs in childhood.
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes. A metabolic disorder that often involves obesity and insulin resistance. It is by far the most common kind of diabetes and usually develops in adulthood.
  
  
• Gestational diabetes. A temporary condition that can affect any woman during pregnancy.
  
  
• Secondary diabetes. Diabetes that results from another disease, such as pancreatitis, or from a medical treatment, such as corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
• Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood. A variation of type 1 diabetes that typically develops after age 30.
  
  
• Maturity-onset diabetes of the young. An uncommon inherited disorder that causes diabetes in people with particular genetic defects.

The causes of diabetes are complex and only partly understood. Risk factors include genetics, family history, excess weight, physical inactivity, age, race and environment.

Signs and symptoms vary and are not always present Possible indicators of diabetes may include unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, slow healing of wounds, vision problems and excessive thirst, urination and hunger. Physicians rely on glucose tests for diagnosis.

Treatment includes diet, exercise and often medications. All people with type 1 diabetes and some people with other forms of diabetes require regular insulin therapy. Many diabetic patients are prescribed antidiabetic agents, cholesterol drugs and blood pressure drugs.

Patients require regular medical care and must perform self care including glucose monitoring, ketone tests and foot care. By controlling glucose and following other aspects of their treatment plan, patients can avoid complications such as chronic kidney failure sometimes leading to dialysis, blindness, amputation and diabetic coma.

The incidence of diabetes is soaring worldwide. There is no known way to prevent some forms of the disease, but people can reduce their risk of prediabetes, type 2 and gestational diabetes by maintaining a normal weight, participating in regular physical activity, eating a sensible diet, not smoking or abusing alcohol, and getting regular medical care.