When someone you love has diabetes, they may need your help. You are actually an important member of their health care “team.” That’s why we wanted to give you the information you’ll need.

 

Diabetes means simply that either there is too much sugar in the blood or there is not enough of the hormone, insulin. Insulin is basically the “key” that unlocks the body’s cells to let blood sugar in and give the energy needed to live. If insulin is missing or blood sugar is too high—many things can go wrong.

 

Over time, high blood sugar can harm many tissues in the body, causing diabetes complications. The eyes can be damaged, leading to vision loss. Kidneys may fail, resulting in the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. Blood vessels can be damaged, leading to heart attack or a stroke. The feet are more prone to infection, sometimes resulting in ulcers that can lead to amputation. Preventing these problems is a major goal in diabetes management.

 

In this guide, we’ll help you better understand diabetes and answer some important questions you may have.