Living with Diabetes: The Basics - Living with Diabetes

Living with Diabetes: The Basics

What is diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when a person's body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin the right way. Insulin helps your cells convert blood sugar (also called glucose) into energy. Diabetes causes the sugar to build up in your blood.

Diabetes can generally be classified as type 1 or type 2. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body makes little or no insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body makes some insulin but can't use it properly or doesn't make enough to control your blood sugar level. Most adults who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

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Reviewed/Updated: 05/08
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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
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