What is Diabetes?

From Sioux Lookout Diabetes (http://www.slktdiab.ca/)

Diabetes is a lifelong condition in which your body cannot properly use and store the fuel (sugar) you take in from the food you eat. Insulin is needed to help the body use sugar for energy. When a person has diabetes, the pancreas either does not produce or produces very little insulin (resulting in type 1 diabetes), or cannot use the insulin that is produced (causing type 2 diabetes). When insulin is not available, the sugar from food stays in the bloodstream causing blood sugars to rise.

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TYPES OF DIABETES

TYPE 1: This is a condition where the body produces very little or no insulin. Type 1 requires daily insulin injections, along with a healthy lifestyle which includes healthy eating, activity, and stress management.

TYPE 2: This is a condition where the body still makes insulin but is not able to use it properly. Healthy lifestyle changes are encouraged to control blood sugar levels.

Pregnancy and Diabetes
Women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes may wish to have children. These women should receive preconception education and close follow-up during their pregnancy. Healthy blood sugars before and during pregnancy will ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby.

Gestational Diabetes
This is a condition where the mother's body is not properly handling the glucose (sugar) from the food she eats. This type of diabetes normally disappears shortly after the baby is born. if you are at risk for Gestational Diabetes your doctor or nurse will order a test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes

Impaired Glucose Tolerance & Impaired Fasting Glucose
Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Impaired Fasting are two conditions, although not considered diabetes, they indicate a problem with the way the body uses insulin and glucose (sugar). These conditions are a risk factor for developing diabetes later on in life. If you are told you have either one of these conditions, now is the time to contact your diabetes team for healthy lifestyle counselling to prevent diabetes.