Diabetes Conditions

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects approximately 23.6 million Americans. People with diabetes are not able to produce enough insulin, which causes glucose to accumulate in the blood and can lead to a variety of health complications, such as blindness, stroke, heart problems, nerve damage and amputation.

There are four types of diabetes:

  • Prediabetes: This early form of diabetes commonly leads to Type 2 diabetes but when found early enough can still help prevent Type 2 diabetes. People diagnosed with prediabetes have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not as high as those already living with diabetes. An estimated 17 million people — about 15 percent of the US population — have prediabetes. To learn more, visit prediabetes.
  • Type 1 diabetes: This form of diabetes comes from the body’s failure to produce insulin and is most commonly seen in children and young adults. People suffering from this form of diabetes must take insulin daily. To learn more, visit Type 1 diabetes.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that results from the body’s resistance to, or inability to make, insulin and is the most common form of diabetes. This condition is also most commonly preceded by obesity. To learn more, visit Type 2 diabetes.
  • Gestational diabetes: About 4 percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This condition affects pregnant women who have not been previously diagnosed with diabetes but have a high level of blood sugar during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can later lead to Type 2 diabetes and is also the only form of diabetes that is curable. To learn more, visit gestational diabetes.

Find a San Diego Endocrinologist
To find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego endocrinologist or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

For More Diabetes Information
To find general information about diabetes, visit Diabetes Care in Adult Health or read the Diabetes News archive.