What is Diabetes?

Fruit and stethescopeDiabetes, as defined by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose (sugar). Diabetes results when the body is not able to produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key to get the glucose from food into the cells. Without enough insulin the glucose stays in the blood stream. The consequences of too much sugar in the blood is that over time, several organs in the body are affected including the kidney, the eye, nerves and the cardiovascular system.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, which destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, which normally produce insulin. Therefore, the person with type 1 diabetes must take multiple daily insulin injections. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of diabetes cases.

Warning Signs for Type 1 diabetes: (usually come on suddenly)

  • Frequent thirst and urination
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Could You Have Diabetes?
  • Blurry vision
  • Weakness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fruity odor on breath 

Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes. It accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body fails to make enough insulin or properly use it.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

  • Overweight
  • Family history of diabetes
  • High blood pressure/cholesterol
  • History of Gestational diabetes
  • Being African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic American or Pacific Islander
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome

Warning Signs for Type 2: (usually develop gradually)

  • Any warning sign listed for type 1 above
  • Vaginal yeast infections in women
  • Frequent infections
  • Cuts that are slow to heal
  • Tingling or numbness in feet or hands

Often, no symptoms are present, and diabetes can be unnoticed for several years. Meanwhile, the damaging effects of high blood sugar are beginning.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs in 4.1% of pregnancies in Connecticut. Gestational diabetes usually requires treatment only during pregnancy but puts the mother, and the child, at high-risk for later development of diabetes. Treatment involves meal planning, physical activity, and in some cases insulin. Treatment to bring the mother’s blood sugar into a healthy range helps prevent complications in the infant. These include low blood sugar at birth and larger size (greater than 9 lbs.).

Risk factors for Gestational diabetes include:

  • Overweight
  • Being an ethnic minority
  • Having a family history of diabetes

Find a local diabetes prevention program

Visit CDC’s online registry of recognized organizations to find out if there is a lifestyle class being offered at this time in your community. If you don’t find a CDC-recognized program in your area, a local YMCA may offer a similar program. Visit the Y Program Web Site for information about more local programs.
Not sure if a program is right for you or how to pay?

Department of Public Health Contact Information
Heart, Brain, and Diabetes Health Unit
Selma Alves, Diabetes Coordinator
Selma.Alves@ct.gov