Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that is affecting more and more Clevelanders. 11% of Clevelanders report that they have diabetes. Many more are at risk for developing diabetes or have pre-diabetes. (This is more than the national average—7% of Americans report having diabetes.) 

Diabetes affects the way the body uses the foods you eat. The cells in your body use glucose (sugar) for energy in the same way a car uses gas as fuel. A hormone called insulin helps to move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, which need a constant supply of energy to live and function. Diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly move the glucose in the bloodstream into the body’s cells. 

Types of Diabetes

  • Type 1 Diabetes
    In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce the insulin needed to move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. If untreated, high blood glucose can lead to coma and death. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin to control blood glucose levels. The cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. Type 1 diabetes usually affects younger people before the age of 30.
  • Type 2 Diabetes
    In type 2 diabetes, the body makes insulin, but it is not enough or it is not properly used. Either way, too much glucose stays in the bloodstream. You may be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes if you:

  • Gestational Diabetes
    Gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy and can be managed with proper prenatal care. After the baby is born, the mother’s blood glucose usually returns to normal. Women who have gestational diabetes are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
  • Pre-Diabetes
    If your blood glucose levels are higher than the normal range but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, you my have pre-diabetes. Even during the pre-diabetes stage, long-term damage to your heart and circulatory system can start to occur. Studies show that most people with this condition may develop type 2 diabetes within eight years.