Managing Diabetes: A Doctor's Guide to Living Well
Introduction to Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes - The body does not produce insulin. It is an autoimmune disease, usually diagnosed in children and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to survive. Type 2 Diabetes - The body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it well. It accounts for around 90-95% of diabetes cases and is largely linked to obesity, physical inactivity, family history, and genetics. It is typically diagnosed in adults over the age of 45, but increasingly younger as well. Gestational Diabetes - Develops in pregnant women who did not previously have diabetes. High blood sugar levels can complicate pregnancy and endanger both mother and baby. It often disappears after giving birth but increases the mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes later. Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions w...