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Diabetes
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html

Diabetes

Also called: Diabetes mellitus, DM
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Prevention and Risk Factors
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Living With
  • Related Issues
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Videos and Tutorials

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Reference Desk
  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Women
  • Older Adults
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. One type of test, the A1C, can also check on how you are managing your diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your blood glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

  • Diabetes (American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Managing Diabetes From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • What is Diabetes? From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • A1C: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • At-Home Medical Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Blood Glucose Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Glucagon Blood Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Glucose in Urine Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Ketones in Blood From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Ketones in Urine From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Microalbumin Test (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • How to Prevent Diabetes: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Diabetes Medicines: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Living With

  • 21 Tips for Traveling with Diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Changing Your Habits: Steps to Better Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes and Digestion (American Heart Association)
  • Diabetes and DKA (Ketoacidosis) (American Diabetes Association)
  • Diabetic Diet: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Get to Know Your Diabetes Care Team (American Diabetes Association)
  • Managing Diabetes in the Heat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • Managing Diabetes: New Technologies Can Make It Easier From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
  • Monitoring (Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists)
  • Take Diabetes to Heart From the National Institutes of Health Easy-to-Read (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF
  • Understanding Diabetes and Mental Health (American Diabetes Association)

Related Issues

  • A1C Test and Race/Ethnicity From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Diabetes Diet, Eating, and Physical Activity From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Is Hyperinsulinemia a Form of Diabetes? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • People at High Risk for Flu Complications (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • Prediabetes:MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Speak Up -- Diabetes: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital (Joint Commission) - PDF
  • Symptoms and Causes of Diabetes From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Vaccinations for Adults with Diabetes (Immunization Action Coalition) - PDF

Genetics

  • 17q12 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • 6q24-related transient neonatal diabetes mellitus: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Congenital generalized lipodystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Familial partial lipodystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Learn the Genetics of Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
  • Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Maturity-onset diabetes of the young: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Monogenic Forms of Diabetes: Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus and Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Type A insulin resistance syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Wolfram syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

  • Diabetes Movie (For Parents) Video (Nemours Foundation)

Statistics and Research

  • Diabetes in America, 3rd Edition (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Diabetes Interactive Atlas (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • FastStats: Diabetes (National Center for Health Statistics)
  • National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
  • Native Americans with Diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • Recent Advances (in Diabetes Research) (American Diabetes Association)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetes Mellitus From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Prophylactic intravitreal injection of aflibercept for preventing postvitrectomy hemorrhage in proliferative...
  • Article: Suprachoroidal injection of triamcinolone acetonide plus intravitreal bevacizumab in diabetic macular...
  • Article: A randomised feasibility study of serial magnetic resonance imaging to reduce...
  • Diabetes -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • Common Terms (American Diabetes Association)

Find an Expert

  • American Diabetes Association
  • Find a Diabetes Educator (Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases From the National Institutes of Health
  • NIDDK Information Clearinghouses and Health Information Center From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Women

  • Diabetes (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

  • Diabetes (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
  • Diabetes in Older People From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • A1C test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Blood sugar test - blood (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes - keeping active (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes - low blood sugar - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes - tests and checkups (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes - when you are sick (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes and exercise (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes myths and facts (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Giving an insulin injection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • High blood sugar - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Diabetes

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • A1C test
  • ACE blood test
  • Anti-insulin antibody test
  • Blood sugar test - blood
  • Diabetes
  • Diabetes - keeping active
  • Diabetes - low blood sugar - self-care
  • Diabetes - tests and checkups
  • Diabetes - when you are sick
  • Diabetes and exercise
  • Diabetes myths and facts
  • Giving an insulin injection
  • Glucose tolerance test - non-pregnant
  • Glucose urine test
  • High blood sugar - self-care
  • Immunizations for people with diabetes
  • Insulin C-peptide test
  • Ketones urine test
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Preparing for surgery when you have diabetes
  • Serum ketones test

Related Health Topics

  • A1C
  • Blood Sugar
  • Diabetes and Pregnancy
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes in Children and Teens
  • Diabetes Medicines
  • Diabetes Type 1
  • Diabetes Type 2
  • Diabetic Diet
  • Diabetic Eye Problems
  • Diabetic Foot
  • Diabetic Heart Disease
  • Diabetic Kidney Problems
  • Diabetic Nerve Problems
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Islet Cell Transplantation
  • Pancreas Transplantation
  • Prediabetes

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Diabetes is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Diabetes

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

  • Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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