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"My regular physician is very much a friend to me, so I feel comfortable going in and talking to her… I think that having that kind of relationship is very important for a person with diabetes or any disease. You need to trust your doctor, and trust yourself that you can ask questions."

‒ Elaine
Cleveland, OH

Did You Know?

The exact causes of both types of diabetes are unknown. Type 1 diabetes tends to show up after exposure to a trigger, such as a virus, which can attack cells in the pancreas that make insulin. There is no one cause for Type 2 diabetes, but it seems to run in families, and most people who get it are overweight.

About diabetes: the basics

Type 1 Diabetes

People with Type 1 diabetes have a pancreas that doesn’t produce any insulin. They will depend on insulin treatment the rest of their lives.

Type 2 Diabetes

People with Type 2 diabetes have a pancreas that produces too little insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. Most people who have diabetes have Type 2. Sometimes, insulin shots or other medication will be necessary.

When diabetes is not carefully managed by keeping the amount of sugar in the blood at the right level, the resulting high glucose amounts can harm nearly every organ system in the body.

Complications of diabetes can range from sudden, urgent issues to those that develop slowly over the years. They can have a devastating impact on your life and your loved ones. Among them:

Heart disease
Stroke
Vision loss and blindness
Kidney Failure
Amputation
Nerve damage

Diabetes is serious and must be treated to avoid serious complications. But if you, your doctor and other professionals on your diabetes team work together, diabetes can be well controlled.

Learn more about goals for high quality diabetes care and how to live well with diabetes from our partners at Netwellness.org