Diabetes and your body Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. Glucose is fuel that comes from some of the foods you eat and drink. It gives your body energy to do all sorts of things, such as walking, thinking and playing sports. After eating, your body breaks down some foods into glucose. The glucose then goes into your bloodstream. To move the glucose from your bloodstream into your muscles and body cells for energy, you need a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made in your pancreas—a body organ that is near your stomach. Insulin helps keep your blood glucose at healthy levels. When you have diabetes, there is not enough insulin, or it is not working well. The insulin is not moving enough glucose from your blood into your muscles and body cells. So, there is too much glucose in your blood. When your blood glucose level stays too high, it can be harmful to your body. Types of diabetes There are different types of diabetes, including: type 2 diabetes (the most common type) type 1 diabetes gestational diabetes. There is also a condition called pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes happens when insulin does not work as well as it needs to and your body does not make enough insulin. A lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have type 2 diabetes. You can help manage type 2 diabetes by: being active eating healthy being a healthy weight. You may need to take tablets, other medicines or insulin to manage type 2 diabetes. Find out more about type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is when your blood glucose level is high, but not high enough to be called diabetes. This does not mean that you have diabetes now, but it does mean you might get type 2 diabetes later. Being active and healthy eating can slow down the start of type 2 diabetes. Find out more about pre-diabetes. Type 1 diabetes Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have type 1 diabetes. This usually happens in kids and teenagers. Type 1 diabetes is when your pancreas cannot make insulin. This is because your body destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes needs treatment with insulin. Insulin can be given every day by injection or by using an insulin pump. Find out more about type 1 diabetes. Gestational diabetes Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This can happen when you are pregnant. But not all women get it. The good thing is that diabetes usually goes away when your baby is born. But your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in the future is higher. Your baby may also be more likely to get type 2 diabetes later in life. That is why doctors say it is good for a woman who has had gestational diabetes to get checked for type 2 diabetes every year, around the time of their baby’s birthday. Find out more about gestational diabetes. Signs of diabetes Signs and symptoms of diabetes can include: feeling tired or weak going to the toilet (to pee) more than usual feeling thirsty leg cramps feeling itchy sores that are slow to heal blurry vision (not being able to see clearly) pins and needles (often in your legs or feet) feeling grumpy or confused. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a health professional. This may be your doctor, health worker or nurse. Talk to your doctor, clinic, nurse or health worker about having a test to find out if you have diabetes. There are blood tests that can tell if your blood glucose levels are high. Information and resource Diabetes yarning: all about diabetes Disclaimer The information here is meant to be helpful as a general guide. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, so be sure to talk to your health professional about your medical needs and questions.
