Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that share a common characteristic: high levels of blood glucose.

Diabetes happens when the body cannot produce enough insulin or when the insulin that is produced in the pancreas cannot work adequately. When diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause serious complications and premature death. However, the good news is that you can control diabetes, and we are here to help you.

What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas and its function is to regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin works like a key to open the door of the cells so glucose – the fuel you get from food - can come inside and be converted into energy.

Think of a corridor full of doors. You need a key to unlock each door so you can put glucose in each room.

Well, insulin is that key and if it is not produced in the right amounts or if it cannot open the doors because it is cracked, then glucose builds up in the blood causing your blood sugar to go up. This is called hyperglycemia (high levels of blood glucose) and is the common manifestation of diabetes.

Types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes was previously called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops quickly, usually over a few weeks, and symptoms are normally very obvious. Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system of the person, usually a child, destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for making insulin. This form of diabetes usually affects children and young adults. Type 1 diabetes is believed to account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes may include autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. It develops slowly and the symptoms are usually less severe than in people with type 1 diabetes. Some people may not notice any symptoms at all and are only diagnosed after a routine medical check up.

Type 2 diabetes affects about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed people with diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. There is a state of hyperinsulinemia, that is a high production of insulin to keep blood glucose levels controlled. But insulin cannot work correctly on the surface of the cells to allow glucose to enter and be used or stored. This causes high blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are at high risk. Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents due to the obesity epidemic we experience today.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops when a woman is diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes develops more frequently among African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and American Indians. It is also more common among obese women and women with a family history of diabetes. Pregnant women with diabetes must control their blood glucose levels well to avoid complications with the baby. Several studies have reported that after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have type 2 diabetes. In addition, women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20% to 50% chance of developing diabetes in the next 5-10 years.