Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.
Sometimes people call diabetes “a touch of sugar” or “borderline diabetes.” These terms suggest that someone doesn’t really have diabetes or has a less serious case, but every case of diabetes is serious.
Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes?
You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight. Physical inactivity, race, and certain health problems such as high blood pressure also affect your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. You are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes or had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant. Learn more about risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
What health problems can people with diabetes develop?
Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as
heart disease
stroke
kidney disease
eye problems
dental disease
nerve damage
foot problems
Symptoms & Causes of Diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include
- increased thirst and urination
- increased hunger
- fatigue
- blurred vision
- numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
- sores that do not heal
- unexplained weight loss
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly, in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms. Some people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes-related health problems, such as blurred vision or heart trouble.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Your chances of developing type 2 diabetes depend on a combination of risk factors. Although you can’t change risk factors related to family history, age, race, or ethnicity, you may be able to avoid some risk factors by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you1
- are overweight or have obesity.
- are age 35 or older. Children and teens can also develop type 2 diabetes, but the risk increases as a person gets older.
- have a family history of diabetes.
Major Partners
- Adaama City Health Office
- East Shewa Zone Health Office
- FInfinne Surroundings Health Office
- Arsi Zone Health Office
- West Arsi Health office
- Noth Shewa Zone Health Office
- West Hararge Health Office
- Bishooftuu Health Office
- Shaashamanee Health Office
- Asallaa City Health Office
Contact us
- Adama, Ethiopia
- Degaga kebele (05)
- P.o.Box:1401
- Phone : +251221117906/+251221117907
- Website: https://www.aarc.gov.et
- Email: admin@aarc.gov.et