For many people with diabetes, checking their blood glucose level each day is an important way to manage their diabetes. Monitoring your blood glucose level is most important if you take insulin.

The results of blood glucose monitoring can help you make decisions about food, physical activity, and medicines. The most common way to check your blood glucose level at home is with a blood glucose meter.

You get a drop of blood by pricking the side of your fingertip with a lancet. Then you apply the blood to a test strip. The meter will show you how much glucose is in your blood at the moment. Ask your health care team how often you should check your blood glucose levels.

Make sure to keep a record of your blood glucose self-checks. You can print copies of this glucose self-check chart. Take these records with you when you visit your health care team. Continuous glucose monitoring CGM is another way to check your glucose levels.

Most CGM systems use a tiny sensor that you insert under your skin. If the CGM system shows that your glucose is too high or too low, you should check your glucose with a blood glucose meter before making any changes to your eating plan, physical activity, or medicines. A CGM system is especially useful for people who use insulin and have problems with low blood glucose.

Talk with your health care team about the best target range for you. Be sure to tell your health care professional if your glucose levels often go above or below your target range. Sometimes blood glucose levels drop below where they should be, which is called hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia can be life threatening and needs to be treated right away. Learn more about how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia. If you often have high blood glucose levels or symptoms of high blood glucose, talk with your health care team. You may need a change in your diabetes meal plan, physical activity plan, or medicines.

Most people with diabetes get health care from a primary care professional. Primary care professionals include internists, family physicians, and pediatricians. Sometimes physician assistants and nurses with extra training, called nurse practitioners, provide primary care.

You also will need to see other care professionals from time to time. A team of health care professionals can help you improve your diabetes self-care. Remember, you are the most important member of your health care team.

When you see members of your health care team, ask questions. Watch a video to help you get ready for your diabetes care visit. You should see your health care team at least twice a year, and more often if you are having problems or are having trouble reaching your blood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol goals.

At each visit, be sure you have a blood pressure check, foot check, and weight check; and review your self-care plan. Talk with your health care team about your medicines and whether you need to adjust them.

Routine health care will help you find and treat any health problems early, or may be able to help prevent them. Talk with your doctor about what vaccines you should get to keep from getting sick, such as a flu shot and pneumonia shot. Preventing illness is an important part of taking care of your diabetes.

Feeling stressed, sad, or angry is common when you live with diabetes. Stress can raise your blood glucose levels, but you can learn ways to lower your stress. Try deep breathing, gardening, taking a walk, doing yoga, meditating, doing a hobby, or listening to your favorite music.

Consider taking part in a diabetes education program or support group that teaches you techniques for managing stress. Learn more about healthy ways to cope with stress. Depression is common among people with a chronic, or long-term, illness.

Depression can get in the way of your efforts to manage your diabetes. Ask for help if you feel down. A mental health counselor, support group, clergy member, friend, or family member who will listen to your feelings may help you feel better. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Getting enough sleep can help improve your mood and energy level. You can take steps to improve your sleep habits. If you often feel sleepy during the day, you may have obstructive sleep apnea , a condition in which your breathing briefly stops many times during the night.

Sleep apnea is common in people who have diabetes. Talk with your health care team if you think you have a sleep problem. This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIDDK , part of the National Institutes of Health.

NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts. Home Health Information Diabetes Diabetes Overview Managing Diabetes.

English English Español. Diabetes Overview What Is Diabetes? Show child pages. Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Show child pages. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Show child pages. Preventing Diabetes Problems Show child pages. How can I manage my diabetes? Your self-care plan may include these steps: Manage your diabetes ABCs Knowing your diabetes ABCs will help you manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

A for the A1C test The A1C test shows your average blood glucose level over the past 3 months. Regular follow-up by a podiatrist or other foot health specialists is encouraged to prevent the development of diabetic foot.

Annual eye exams are suggested to monitor for progression of diabetic retinopathy. Late in the 19th century, sugar in the urine glycosuria was associated with diabetes. Various doctors studied the connection. Frederick Madison Allen studied diabetes in —12, then published a large volume, Studies Concerning Glycosuria and Diabetes , Boston, He invented a fasting treatment for diabetes called the Allen treatment for diabetes.

His diet was an early attempt at managing diabetes. The average normal person has an average fasting glucose level of 4. Optimal management of diabetes involves patients measuring and recording their own blood glucose levels. By keeping a diary of their own blood glucose measurements and noting the effect of food and exercise, patients can modify their lifestyle to better control their diabetes.

For patients on insulin, patient involvement is important in achieving effective dosing and timing. Levels which are significantly above or below this range are problematic and can in some cases be dangerous.

Most diabetics know when they are going to "go hypo" and usually are able to eat food or drink something sweet to raise their levels. A patient who is hyperglycemic high glucose can also become temporarily hypoglycemic under certain conditions e.

not eating regularly, or after strenuous exercise, followed by fatigue. Intensive efforts to achieve blood sugar levels close to normal have been shown to triple the risk of the most severe form of hypoglycemia, in which the patient requires assistance from by-standers in order to treat the episode.

The patient is advised to seek urgent medical attention as soon as possible if blood sugar levels continue to rise after 2—3 tests. High blood sugar levels are known as hyperglycemia , which is not as easy to detect as hypoglycemia and usually happens over a period of days rather than hours or minutes.

If left untreated, this can result in diabetic coma and death. Prolonged and elevated levels of glucose in the blood, which is left unchecked and untreated, will, over time, result in serious diabetic complications in those susceptible and sometimes even death.

There is currently no way of testing for susceptibility to complications. Diabetics are therefore recommended to check their blood sugar levels either daily or every few days. There is also diabetes management software available from blood testing manufacturers which can display results and trends over time.

Type 1 diabetics normally check more often, due to insulin therapy. A history of blood sugar level results is especially useful for the diabetic to present to their doctor or physician in the monitoring and control of the disease.

Failure to maintain a strict regimen of testing can accelerate symptoms of the condition, and it is therefore imperative that any diabetic patient strictly monitor their glucose levels regularly. Glycemic control is a medical term referring to the typical levels of blood sugar glucose in a person with diabetes mellitus.

Much evidence suggests that many of the long-term complications of diabetes, especially the microvascular complications, result from many years of hyperglycemia elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Good glycemic control, in the sense of a "target" for treatment, has become an important goal of diabetes care, although recent research suggests that the complications of diabetes may be caused by genetic factors [15] [16] or, in type 1 diabetics, by the continuing effects of the autoimmune disease which first caused the pancreas to lose its insulin-producing ability.

Because blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day and glucose records are imperfect indicators of these changes, the percentage of hemoglobin which is glycated is used as a proxy measure of long-term glycemic control in research trials and clinical care of people with diabetes.

This test, the hemoglobin A1c or glycated hemoglobin reflects average glucose levels over the preceding 2—3 months.

In reality, because of the imperfections of treatment measures, even "good glycemic control" describes blood glucose levels that average somewhat higher than normal much of the time. In addition, one survey of type 2 diabetics found that they rated the harm to their quality of life from intensive interventions to control their blood sugar to be just as severe as the harm resulting from intermediate levels of diabetic complications.

Currently, many patients and physicians attempt to do better than that. Meta-analysis of large studies done on the effects of tight vs.

Additionally, tight glucose control decreased the risk of progression of retinopathy and nephropathy, and decreased the incidence peripheral neuropathy, but increased the risk of hypoglycemia 2.

Relying on their own perceptions of symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia is usually unsatisfactory as mild to moderate hyperglycemia causes no obvious symptoms in nearly all patients. Other considerations include the fact that, while food takes several hours to be digested and absorbed, insulin administration can have glucose lowering effects for as little as 2 hours or 24 hours or more depending on the nature of the insulin preparation used and individual patient reaction.

In addition, the onset and duration of the effects of oral hypoglycemic agents vary from type to type and from patient to patient. Control and outcomes of both types 1 and 2 diabetes may be improved by patients using home glucose meters to regularly measure their glucose levels. Lifestyle adjustments are generally made by the patients themselves following training by a clinician.

Regular blood testing, especially in type 1 diabetics, is helpful to keep adequate control of glucose levels and to reduce the chance of long term side effects of the disease. The principle of the devices is virtually the same: a small blood sample is collected and measured. In one type of meter, the electrochemical, a small blood sample is produced by the patient using a lancet a sterile pointed needle.

The blood droplet is usually collected at the bottom of a test strip, while the other end is inserted in the glucose meter. This test strip contains various chemicals so that when the blood is applied, a small electrical charge is created between two contacts.

This charge will vary depending on the glucose levels within the blood. In older glucose meters, the drop of blood is placed on top of a strip. A chemical reaction occurs and the strip changes color.

The meter then measures the color of the strip optically. Self-testing is clearly important in type I diabetes where the use of insulin therapy risks episodes of hypoglycemia and home-testing allows for adjustment of dosage on each administration.

Benefits of control and reduced hospital admission have been reported. This is particularly so for patients taking monotherapy with metformin who are not at risk of hypoglycaemia. Regular 6 monthly laboratory testing of HbA1c glycated haemoglobin provides some assurance of long-term effective control and allows the adjustment of the patient's routine medication dosages in such cases.

High frequency of self-testing in type 2 diabetes has not been shown to be associated with improved control. Continuous Glucose Monitoring CGM CGM technology has been rapidly developing to give people living with diabetes an idea about the speed and direction of their glucose changes.

While it still requires calibration from SMBG and is not indicated for use in correction boluses, the accuracy of these monitors is increasing with every innovation. The results are that certain foods can be identified as causing one's blood sugar levels to rise and other foods as safe foods- that do not make a person's blood sugar levels to rise.

Each individual absorbs sugar differently and this is why testing is a necessity. A useful test that has usually been done in a laboratory is the measurement of blood HbA1c levels. This is the ratio of glycated hemoglobin in relation to the total hemoglobin.

Persistent raised plasma glucose levels cause the proportion of these molecules to go up. This is a test that measures the average amount of diabetic control over a period originally thought to be about 3 months the average red blood cell lifetime , but more recently [ when?

In the non-diabetic, the HbA1c level ranges from 4. The HbA1c test is not appropriate if there has been changes to diet or treatment within shorter time periods than 6 weeks or there is disturbance of red cell aging e. recent bleeding or hemolytic anemia or a hemoglobinopathy e.

sickle cell disease. In such cases, the alternative Fructosamine test is used to indicate average control in the preceding 2 to 3 weeks. The first CGM device made available to consumers was the GlucoWatch biographer in It was a retrospective device rather than live.

Several live monitoring devices have subsequently been manufactured which provide ongoing monitoring of glucose levels on an automated basis during the day. Sharing their electronic health records with people who have type 2 diabetes helps them to reduce their blood sugar levels.

It is a way of helping people understand their own health condition and involving them actively in its management. The widespread use of smartphones has turned mobile applications apps into a popular means of the usage of all forms of software.

Conducting regular self-management tasks such as medication and insulin intake, blood sugar checkup, diet observance, and physical exercise are really demanding. However, despite the high number of apps, the rate of their usage among the patients is not high.

One of the reasons for this could be due to the design problems that affect their usability. Monitoring a person's feet can help in predicting the likelihood of developing diabetic foot ulcers.

A common method for this is using a special thermometer to look for spots on the foot that have higher temperature which indicate the possibility of an ulcer developing. The current guideline in the United Kingdom recommends collecting pieces of information for predicting the development of foot ulcers.

This method is not meant to replace people regularly checking their own feet but complement it. The British National Health Service launched a programme targeting , people at risk of diabetes to lose weight and take more exercise in In it was announced that the programme was successful.

The 17, people who attended most of the healthy living sessions had, collectively lost nearly 60, kg, and the programme was to be doubled in size. Because high blood sugar caused by poorly controlled diabetes can lead to a plethora of immediate and long-term complications, it is critical to maintain blood sugars as close to normal as possible, and a diet that produces more controllable glycemic variability is an important factor in producing normal blood sugars.

People with type 1 diabetes who use insulin can eat whatever they want, preferably a healthy diet with some carbohydrate content; in the long term it is helpful to eat a consistent amount of carbohydrate to make blood sugar management easier.

There is a lack of evidence of the usefulness of low-carbohydrate dieting for people with type 1 diabetes. Computer assisted dietary history taking appears to just as applicable as oral or written dietary history taking, however there is lack of evidence showing effects on improving dietary habits, levels of HbA1c and overall management of diabetes.

Those who have type two diabetes are prone to having higher than normal blood sugar levels ; one way to help manage these levels is through exercise. People diagnosed with type two diabetes can use exercise as a way to maintain their blood sugar and it has been shown to work just as well as medications.

Any physical activity can improve type two diabetes, whether that is walking, swimming, or dancing, any type of movement that burns calories. People living with type two diabetes go through many challenges, one of those challenges is keeping on top of blood glucose levels.

Exercise will not only improve blood sugar levels, but can also allow the body to be more sensitive to insulin , reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke which are common illnesses associated with diabetes. Studies show that exercise along with diet can slow the rate of impaired glucose tolerance in those with type two diabetes.

With that, it is recommended people with type two diabetes take part in minutes on average of exercise a week. There have not been studies that show how exercise can help manage blood glucose levels in those with type one diabetes.

Studies on youth and young adults with type one diabetes where the HBA1c was monitored in both a controlled group and intervention group over a month and even up to 5 month program showed no consistent effect on glycemic control.

Possible factors that may affect the impact of exercise on management of glucose levels in type one diabetes are that energy consumption increases near time of exercise to account for possible hypoglycaemic episodes; this may be the reason type one diabetics do not see the lowering of glucose levels during exercise.

The two most effective forms of exercise for people with type two diabetes are aerobic and resistance training. During the last 2 decades, resistance training has gained considerable recognition as an optimal form of exercise for patients with type two diabetes.

The combination of aerobic and resistance training, as recommended by current ADA guidelines, is the most effective when it comes to controlling glucose and lipids in type two diabetes.

To maximize insulin sensitivity it is recommended to exercise daily. The Association claims that 75 minutes a week is sufficient for most physically fit or younger patients. Not only does exercising regularly help manage blood sugar levels and weight, it helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, improves cholesterol , reduces risk of diabetes related complications, increases the effect of insulin, provides a boost in energy levels, helps reduce stress and contributes to positive self-esteem.

Therefore, an ongoing exercise program is required to maintain the health benefits associated with these forms of training. Currently, one goal for diabetics is to avoid or minimize chronic diabetic complications, as well as to avoid acute problems of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.

Adequate control of diabetes leads to lower risk of complications associated with unmonitored diabetes including kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant , blindness, heart disease and limb amputation.

There is emerging evidence that full-blown diabetes mellitus type 2 can be evaded in those with only mildly impaired glucose tolerance. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus require direct injection of insulin as their bodies cannot produce enough or even any insulin.

As of , there is no other clinically available form of insulin administration other than injection for patients with type 1: injection can be done by insulin pump , by jet injector , or any of several forms of hypodermic needle.

Non-injective methods of insulin administration have been unattainable as the insulin protein breaks down in the digestive tract. There are several insulin application mechanisms under experimental development as of , including a capsule that passes to the liver and delivers insulin into the bloodstream.

For type 2 diabetics, diabetic management consists of a combination of diet , exercise, and weight loss , in any achievable combination depending on the patient. Obesity is very common in type 2 diabetes and contributes greatly to insulin resistance. Weight reduction and exercise improve tissue sensitivity to insulin and allow its proper use by target tissues.

Some Type 2 diabetics eventually fail to respond to these and must proceed to insulin therapy. A study conducted in found that increasingly complex and costly diabetes treatments are being applied to an increasing population with type 2 diabetes.

Data from to was analyzed and it was found that the mean number of diabetes medications per treated patient increased from 1. Patient education [63] and compliance with treatment is very important in managing the disease. Improper use of medications and insulin can be very dangerous causing hypo- or hyper-glycemic episodes.

For type 1 diabetics, there will always be a need for insulin injections throughout their life, as the pancreatic beta cells of a type 1 diabetic are not capable of producing sufficient insulin.

However, both type 1 and type 2 diabetics can see dramatic improvements in blood sugars through modifying their diet, and some type 2 diabetics can fully control the disease by dietary modification. Insulin therapy requires close monitoring and a great deal of patient education, as improper administration is quite dangerous.

For example, when food intake is reduced, less insulin is required. A previously satisfactory dosing may be too much if less food is consumed causing a hypoglycemic reaction if not intelligently adjusted. Exercise decreases insulin requirements as exercise increases glucose uptake by body cells whose glucose uptake is controlled by insulin, and vice versa.

In addition, there are several types of insulin with varying times of onset and duration of action. Several companies are currently working to develop a non-invasive version of insulin, so that injections can be avoided. Mannkind has developed an inhalable version, while companies like Novo Nordisk , Oramed and BioLingus have efforts undergoing for an oral product.

Also oral combination products of insulin and a GLP-1 agonist are being developed. Insulin therapy creates risk because of the inability to continuously know a person's blood glucose level and adjust insulin infusion appropriately.

New advances in technology have overcome much of this problem. Small, portable insulin infusion pumps are available from several manufacturers. They allow a continuous infusion of small amounts of insulin to be delivered through the skin around the clock, plus the ability to give bolus doses when a person eats or has elevated blood glucose levels.

This is very similar to how the pancreas works, but these pumps lack a continuous "feed-back" mechanism. Thus, the user is still at risk of giving too much or too little insulin unless blood glucose measurements are made. A further danger of insulin treatment is that while diabetic microangiopathy is usually explained as the result of hyperglycemia, studies in rats indicate that the higher than normal level of insulin diabetics inject to control their hyperglycemia may itself promote small blood vessel disease.

Studies conducted in the United States [65] and Europe [66] showed that drivers with type 1 diabetes had twice as many collisions as their non-diabetic spouses, demonstrating the increased risk of driving collisions in the type 1 diabetes population.

Diabetes can compromise driving safety in several ways. First, long-term complications of diabetes can interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle. For example, diabetic retinopathy loss of peripheral vision or visual acuity , or peripheral neuropathy loss of feeling in the feet can impair a driver's ability to read street signs, control the speed of the vehicle, apply appropriate pressure to the brakes, etc.

Second, hypoglycemia can affect a person's thinking process, coordination, and state of consciousness. Studies have demonstrated that the effects of neuroglycopenia impair driving ability.

Additionally, individuals with a history of hypoglycemia-related driving mishaps appear to use sugar at a faster rate [71] and are relatively slower at processing information.

Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health NIH have demonstrated that face-to-face training programs designed to help individuals with type 1 diabetes better anticipate, detect, and prevent extreme BG can reduce the occurrence of future hypoglycemia-related driving mishaps.

The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved a treatment called Exenatide , based on the saliva of a Gila monster , to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Artificial Intelligence researcher Dr. Cynthia Marling, of the Ohio University Russ College of Engineering and Technology , in collaboration with the Appalachian Rural Health Institute Diabetes Center, is developing a case-based reasoning system to aid in diabetes management. The goal of the project is to provide automated intelligent decision support to diabetes patients and their professional care providers by interpreting the ever-increasing quantities of data provided by current diabetes management technology and translating it into better care without time-consuming manual effort on the part of an endocrinologist or diabetologist.

Use of a "Diabetes Coach" is becoming an increasingly popular way to manage diabetes. A Diabetes Coach is usually a Certified diabetes educator CDE who is trained to help people in all aspects of caring for their diabetes. The CDE can advise the patient on diet, medications, proper use of insulin injections and pumps, exercise, and other ways to manage diabetes while living a healthy and active lifestyle.

CDEs can be found locally or by contacting a company which provides personalized diabetes care using CDEs. Diabetes Coaches can speak to a patient on a pay-per-call basis or via a monthly plan.

High blood glucose in diabetic people is a risk factor for developing gum and tooth problems, especially in post- puberty and aging individuals. Diabetic patients have greater chances of developing oral health problems such as tooth decay , salivary gland dysfunction, fungal infections , inflammatory skin disease, periodontal disease or taste impairment and thrush of the mouth.

By maintaining a good oral status, diabetic persons prevent losing their teeth as a result of various periodontal conditions. Diabetic persons must increase their awareness about oral infections as they have a double impact on health.

Firstly, people with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which causes increased blood sugar levels, often leading to diabetes complications. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar.

This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications. The first symptoms of gum and tooth infection in diabetic persons are decreased salivary flow and burning mouth or tongue. Also, patients may experience signs like dry mouth, which increases the incidence of decay. Poorly controlled diabetes usually leads to gum recession, since plaque creates more harmful proteins in the gums.

Tooth decay and cavities are some of the first oral problems that individuals with diabetes are at risk for. Increased blood sugar levels translate into greater sugars and acids that attack the teeth and lead to gum diseases.

Gingivitis can also occur as a result of increased blood sugar levels along with an inappropriate oral hygiene. Periodontitis is an oral disease caused by untreated gingivitis and which destroys the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth.

This disease may cause the gums to pull away from the teeth which may eventually loosen and fall out. Diabetic people tend to experience more severe periodontitis because diabetes lowers the ability to resist infection [82] and also slows healing.

At the same time, an oral infection such as periodontitis can make diabetes more difficult to control because it causes the blood sugar levels to rise. To prevent further diabetic complications as well as serious oral problems, diabetic persons must keep their blood sugar levels under control and have a proper oral hygiene.

A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well-controlled diabetics are. Diabetics who receive good dental care and have good insulin control typically have a better chance at avoiding gum disease to help prevent tooth loss.

Dental care is therefore even more important for diabetic patients than for healthy individuals. Maintaining the teeth and gum healthy is done by taking some preventing measures such as regular appointments at a dentist and a very good oral hygiene.

Also, oral health problems can be avoided by closely monitoring the blood sugar levels. Patients who keep better under control their blood sugar levels and diabetes are less likely to develop oral health problems when compared to diabetic patients who control their disease moderately or poorly.

Poor oral hygiene is a great factor to take under consideration when it comes to oral problems and even more in people with diabetes. Diabetic people are advised to brush their teeth at least twice a day, and if possible, after all meals and snacks.

However, brushing in the morning and at night is mandatory as well as flossing and using an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Individuals with diabetes are recommended to use toothpaste that contains fluoride as this has proved to be the most efficient in fighting oral infections and tooth decay.

Flossing must be done at least once a day, as well because it is helpful in preventing oral problems by removing the plaque between the teeth, which is not removed when brushing. Diabetic patients must get professional dental cleanings every six months. In cases when dental surgery is needed, it is necessary to take some special precautions such as adjusting diabetes medication or taking antibiotics to prevent infection.

Looking for early signs of gum disease redness, swelling, bleeding gums and informing the dentist about them is also helpful in preventing further complications. Quitting smoking is recommended to avoid serious diabetes complications and oral diseases.

Watch your portion sizes, and limit sugary or salty foods. Although you need some sugar to feed your growing baby, you should avoid eating too much. Work with a registered dietitian if you have access to one.

They can help you design an individualized diabetes meal plan. Getting the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs can help you manage your blood sugar.

Along with diet and treatment, exercise plays an essential role in diabetes management. This is true for all types of diabetes. Staying active helps your cells react to insulin more effectively and lower your blood sugar levels.

Exercising regularly can also help you:. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, general guidance is to aim for at least minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.

There are currently no separate exercise guidelines for people who have gestational diabetes. Diabetes-friendly exercises include:. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to incorporate activity into your diabetes management plan.

You may need to follow special precautions, like checking your blood sugar before and after working out and making sure to stay hydrated. Consider working with a personal trainer or exercise physiologist who has experience working with people who have diabetes.

They can help you develop a personalized workout plan tailored to your needs. Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes or is at risk for the condition should be tested. People are routinely tested for gestational diabetes during their second trimester or third trimester of pregnancy.

Doctors use these blood tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes:. To diagnose gestational diabetes , your doctor will test your blood sugar levels between the 24th week and 28th week of pregnancy. There are two types of tests:. The earlier you are diagnosed with diabetes, the sooner you can start treatment.

Find out whether you should get tested, and get more information on tests your doctor might perform. Type 1 and type 1. Yet many other diabetes risk factors are manageable. Most diabetes prevention strategies involve making simple adjustments to your diet and fitness routine.

Discover more strategies that may help you avoid this chronic health condition. Hormones produced by the placenta can make your body more resistant to the effects of insulin. People can have diabetes before they conceive and carry it with them into pregnancy. This is called pre-gestational diabetes.

Diabetes during pregnancy can lead to complications for your newborn, such as jaundice or breathing problems. Gestational diabetes should go away after you deliver, but it does significantly increase your risk of getting diabetes later. About half of people with gestational diabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Children can get both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Managing blood sugar is especially important in young people because diabetes can damage important organs such as the heart and kidneys.

The autoimmune form of diabetes often starts in childhood. One of the main symptoms is increased urination. Extreme thirst, fatigue, and hunger are also signs of the condition. The condition can cause high blood sugar, dehydration , and diabetic ketoacidosis DKA , which can be medical emergencies.

Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes because type 2 was so rare in children. Now that more children have overweight or obesity , type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in this age group. Untreated type 2 diabetes can cause lifelong complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, and blindness.

Healthy eating and exercise can help your child manage their blood sugar and prevent these problems. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent than ever in young people.

Some types of diabetes — like types 1 and 1. Others — like type 2 — can be prevented by making better food choices, increasing activity, and losing weight. Discuss potential diabetes risks with your doctor. We encourage our readers to share their unique experiences to create a helpful and informative community here on Healthline.

Our editors will also review every comment before publishing, ensuring our high level of medical integrity. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes.

When insulin levels are too low, it can be life threatening. Learn about the symptoms and…. Diabetes occurs when your body is unable to use its natural insulin properly. Learn more about manual insulin injections and how they help treat…. Everything you need to know about type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that causes high blood sugar levels because the body cannot make the hormone….

The three P's of diabetes refer to the most common symptoms of the condition. Those are polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia. High blood glucose can…. Singer Nick Jonas, who has type 1 diabetes, debuted a new blood glucose monitoring device during a Super Bowl television commercial.

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Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes. Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD — By Stephanie Watson — Updated on January 30, Types Prediabetes Symptoms Causes Risk factors Complications Treatment Diet Exercise Diagnosis Prevention In pregnancy In children Takeaway Comments Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar.

Types of diabetes. Explore our top resources. Symptoms of diabetes. Discover more about Type 2 Diabetes. Causes of diabetes. Diabetes risk factors. Diabetes complications.

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We avoid using tertiary references. Medication is an important part of managing type 2 diabetes. Work with your doctor to see what medications fit into your diabetes management plan to help reach your target range. Here are a few questions about your medications you can ask your doctor, pharmacist, or diabetes care and education specialist:.

Read More on Type 2. If you have type 1 diabetes, it means that your pancreas does not produce insulin. It requires monitoring your blood glucose and administering multiple daily insulin injections with a pen, syringe, or a pump. Finding ways to manage your blood glucose levels, your insulin intake, diet and exercise, and working with your diabetes care team, can help you feel healthier and help you stay on top of your condition.

Remember, millions of people live healthy lives with type 1. Find others with type 1 and ask them what they do to stay healthy.

You may be curious about an insulin pump, and find someone who uses one. You can get tips and tricks that will make life just a little bit easier.

Reaching out is key to living a vital life with type 1 diabetes. The Type 1 Diabetes Self-Care Manual can help you navigate any challenge with confidence.

It covers everything, from blood glucose goals to complications and special considerations by age. No matter if you live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise are two of the most powerful tools you have.

Not only do they help you control your blood glucose, but they can mean the difference between feeling run down and feeling great. New diets can feel restrictive and there is no one-size-fits-all diet.

While you need to make changes in what and how much you eat, you have access to plenty of guidance.

Start with an ADA-approved cookbook and remember to:. Another part of living a full and healthy life with diabetes is being active. No matter what you do or how you approach it, know that any type of physical activity helps lower your blood glucose. Other benefits of physical activity include:.

Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have questions about which activities are right for you. Some types of good physical activity to consider include:. Breadcrumb Home Life with Diabetes Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes.

Life with Diabetes. Look—we know it can be hard to hear that you have diabetes.