Frequently Asked Questions

What causes diabetes?

Diabetes is a lack of the hormone insulin (in type 1 diabetes), or an inability to respond to insulin normally (in type 2 diabetes). Insulin helps move glucose into the body’s cells, so when it is absent, or when the cells don’t respond to it, the glucose stays in the blood instead of moving into the cells. This causes the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

If my mother had diabetes, does that mean I’ll get it?

Not necessarily. Although a tendency to develop type 2 diabetes does run in families, by making healthy choices now you can prevent diabetes from developing later or at least delay its onset.

What is “blood sugar”?

“Blood sugar” is a non-technical term for the level of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a type of sugar that can be used by the cells of the body, so much of the food we eat is broken down into glucose that our cells can use directly. If insulin isn’t available to help the cells absorb this glucose, it accumulates in the blood and the “blood glucose level” goes up.

What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Its normal function is to help glucose move into the body’s cells. One type of treatment for diabetes is to inject insulin to replace the missing insulin that the body isn’t making.

Can diabetes be treated with pills like other diseases?

Type 2 diabetes (the kind that usually affects adults) can be managed with oral medications in most patients, especially early in the disease process. However, it is extremely important for individuals taking them to also make certain lifestyle changes.