When you have diabetes, your body has trouble using a sugar called glucose for energy. The sugar level in your blood becomes too high. Diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) condition. It can cause serious health problems if you don't get treatment. Or it can cause life-threatening conditions such as ketoacidosis.
Signs of diabetes
Are any of these questions true for you? If yes, see your healthcare provider.
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Do you feel tired all the time?
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Do you pee (urinate) often?
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Do you feel thirsty or hungry all the time?
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Are you losing weight for no reason?
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Do cuts and bruises heal slowly?
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Do you have numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes?
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Do you have blurry vision?
What puts you at risk?
People of all backgrounds can get diabetes. But it more often affects:
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African Americans
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Alaskan Natives
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Native Americans
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Hispanics
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Asian Americans
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Pacific Islanders
Other things can raise your risk. They include:
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Having a family history of diabetes
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Being overweight
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Being over age 35
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Having diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
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Not getting enough physical activity
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Taking certain medicines
Why worry about diabetes?
Here's why having diabetes is a problem:
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Diabetes keeps your body from turning food into energy.
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It can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and feet. It can also harm your heart and blood vessels.
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Diabetes that is not under control can make it hard to live a healthy life.
