See your doctor for further testing or set up a free diabetes test at the SLAC Medical Department by calling Ext. 2281. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not make or respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Without insulin, the body is unable to change food into energy. Bodies get energy from glucose, a form of sugar made from the foods you eat.
Glucose enters body cells with the help of insulin.
Insulin acts as a key that unlocks the door to the cells to let the glucose in. It usually starts after age 40. Their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their body does not respond properly to the insulin - the key fits the lock but can't open the door. Type II diabetics can often control their glucose levels through diet, weight management, and medication without insulin injections. Both types of diabetes, especially type I, run in families.