What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (GLOO-kos), also called blood sugar, is too high. Glucose comes from foods we eat, and is needed as fuel for our bodies even when we are at rest. Your blood always has a little bit of glucose. Extra glucose is normally stored in our liver and muscles until we need it for activity. To be used for energy the glucose has to be moved from the liver, muscle and blood into the cells. The problem happens when the glucose stays in your blood and does not reach the cell. This causes your blood glucose to reach an unhealthy level.

An organ in our body, the pancreas (PAN-kree-as), makes insulin (IN-suh-lin). Insulin is what helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. When you have diabetes, it is because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Another type of diabetes is caused when the pancreas makes insulin, but the cells are not using the glucose very well. In both cases, the blood glucose level rises too high. It is unhealthy for the blood glucose to be too high. This elevation in blood glucose level causes damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys.

Health Tip #:003

Color Your Diet

Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and are a good source of ANTIOXIDANTS. Antioxidents protect your blood vessels from cholesterol and protect your body from damage that could lead to cancer. The recommended serving of fruits and vegetables is at least five a day; however, this is one situation in which more is better!

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.
Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.

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What Is Diabetes?

Health Tip #:003

Color Your Diet

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes. Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.
Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.