QUESTIONS ABOUT DIABETES
Is diabetes preventable?
Researchers are looking for ways to prevent type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Exercising regularly and staying at a healthy weight can help you avoid type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes.

Can I get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
No. Diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, which produces insulin. Insulin helps your body use glucose (sugar) for energy.

If I have diabetes, will I need insulin injections for the rest of my life?
Probably not. Usually only type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections, and only 5 percent to 10 percent of all people with diabetes have type 1. People with type 2 diabetes can usually control the disease through diet and exercise.

I have type 1 diabetes. If I have children, will they develop it?
Type 1 diabetes tends to run in families. However, most people who develop diabetes do not have a parent with diabetes. If a child has diabetes, his or her sibling has 20 times the risk of eventually developing it.

What puts me at risk for developing diabetes?
Doctors aren’t sure what causes type 1 diabetes. But they have linked type 2 diabetes to being overweight, not getting enough exercise and having a family history of diabetes.

In addition, African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians are more likely than the rest of the population to develop diabetes.

If I develop diabetes while pregnant, is it only temporary?
Gestational diabetes disappears once pregnancy is over in about 95 percent of all cases. However, more than half of all women who experience gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Can diabetes cause vision loss?
Diabetes contributes to retinopathy, a disease of the retina, the light-sensing nerve layer at the back of the eye. The fragile blood vessels in the eye bleed and can block the retina, causing you to see hazy, darkened images. If left untreated, hemorrhages and scar tissue can pull the retina away from the back of the eye, potentially causing blindness.

If I have diabetes, do I need a special diet?
You should avoid concentrated amounts of carbohydrates—found in foods such as candy, pastries, and sugary desserts and drinks—that can send blood glucose levels skyrocketing. And skipping a meal can sink blood glucose to potentially dangerous levels.

Up to 60 percent of your calories should come from complex carbohydrates, found in foods such as whole-grain breads, vegetables, and dried beans and peas. A registered dietitian can help you plan a healthful diet.

What is hypoglycemia?
When your blood glucose levels are too low, you have hypoglycemia. If you have diabetes this can occur if you take too much insulin or oral medication, or don't eat properly, especially before exercise. You will become nervous, sweaty, shaky or weak; you may have a headache or blurred vision and be extremely hungry.

Sugar, juice or food with a high sugar content can help you recover from hypoglycemia. If not treated in time, hypoglycemia can cause you to slip into a coma or have a seizure.

What is hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood and urine. Hyperglycemia occurs when diabetes is untreated, insulin or pills are not taken, too much food is eaten, not enough activity is performed, or a person with diabetes is ill or stressed.

Symptoms include frequent urination, hot, dry skin, intense thirst, nausea, crankiness, or a feeling of always being tired or having no energy all the time. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice and have your blood glucose checked often.

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