Q. What is diabetes?

A. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert food into energy. Type 2 diabetes is the most common kind among adults. Over time, the high glucose (blood sugar) levels caused by diabetes can damage organs like the eyes and kidneys, and increase risk of stroke and heart disease.

Q. How common is diabetes?

A. 20.8 million Americans (7% of the population) have diabetes. An estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, but 6.2 million (or nearly 1 in 3 of those with diabetes) do not know they have the disease. Diabetes is more common in older adults. Among people 60 and over, 1 in 5 (or 20.9%) has diabetes.

Q. How do I know if I have diabetes?

A. You may not know you have diabetes for many years. But taking a test such as the fasting plasma glucose screening, which measures your blood sugar level, will provide you with valuable insight.

Q. How do you screen for diabetes?

A. We conduct a simple finger-stick blood screening to measure blood sugar levels following 8 hours of fasting. Learn more about screening for diabetes.