No matter where you are in your health journey, we have the resources and tools you need to live and thrive with diabetes.
Everyone's diabetes journey is different, whether you're new to it or have been living with it for a long time. Wherever you are, know we're standing next to you every step of the way—providing you with the support you need until the day we win the fight against diabetes.
Finding out you have diabetes can be overwhelming, but take a breath knowing you have a community to fall back on and us by your side to help you thrive.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates you eat into blood glucose (blood sugar) that it uses for energy—and insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes—and it means that your body doesn’t use insulin properly. And while some people can control their blood glucose levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to help manage it.
Specific types of diabetes due to other causes, for example monogenic diabetes syndromes (such as neonatal diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young), diseases of the exocrine pancreas (such as cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis), and drug- or chemical-induced diabetes (such as with glucocorticoid use, in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, or after organ transplantation).
As the placenta supports the baby as it grows, sometimes hormones block the action of the mother’s insulin to her body and it causes a problem called insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes can also start when the mother’s body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy.
Working with your diabetes care team on your treatment plan will help you reach your health targets, feel healthy, and lower your risk for diabetes complications.
Check out these additional resources to help you on your diabetes journey.
Search for diabetes resources in your area, like medical care, advocacy, mental health care, nutrition education, and so much more.
Before getting in a car, boat, plane, or train, make sure you have a plan and the essentials within reach.
Planning ahead for sick days is key to reducing your risk of complications and helping you feel better sooner.
With your support, the American Diabetes Association® can continue our lifesaving work to make breakthroughs in research and provide people with the resources they need to fight diabetes.