What Is Diabetes?
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where your body cannot properly use or make insulin. As a result, blood sugar (glucose) levels rise too high. This is called hyperglycemia.
When you eat, your body breaks food down into sugar. That sugar enters your bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move sugar into your cells. Your cells then use it for energy or store it for later.
In people with diabetes, this process is disrupted. Either your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or it doesn’t respond to insulin correctly. Sometimes both problems happen at once.
Types of Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes. Each one has a different cause, treatment, and long-term impact.
1. Type 1 Diabetes
Usually diagnosed in children or young adults
Caused by the immune system attacking the pancreas
The body makes little or no insulin
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily
It accounts for about 5% of all diabetes cases
2. Type 2 Diabetes
The body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it well
This is called insulin resistance
It usually develops in adults but is now more common in children
Often treated with lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin
It is the most common type of diabetes
3. Gestational Diabetes
Occurs during pregnancy, often around the 28th week
Usually goes away after the baby is born
Raises the mother's lifelong risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Increases the child’s future risk of obesity and diabetes
How Diabetes Affects Your Body
If your body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly, glucose builds up in your blood. Over time, high blood sugar can damage your nerves, kidneys, eyes, and heart.
Diabetes can lead to:
Nerve damage (neuropathy)
Kidney failure
Vision problems or blindness
The good news is that diabetes can be managed—and even reversed in some cases—with the right approach.
Can Diabetes Be Reversed?
Yes, but it depends on the type and how long you’ve had it.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed. It requires lifelong insulin therapy.
Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be reversed—especially early after diagnosis. Lifestyle changes play a key role.
You can improve your blood sugar and reduce medication needs by:
Following a nutrient-dense diet
Exercising regularly
Reducing stress
Getting better sleep
Losing excess weight
If you’ve had type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years, reversal becomes less likely. But you can still control it and reduce complications.
According to the CDC and research from the American Diabetes Association, people who make healthy lifestyle changes can significantly reduce their risk of diabetes-related problems.
(CDC, ADA)
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
You may be at higher risk if you:
Are over age 45
Are overweight or obese
Have a family history of diabetes
Had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
Have high blood pressure or abnormal cholesterol
Live a sedentary lifestyle
Are from a higher-risk group (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)
What is the Next Step
Watch this short video to learn about Remission in Diabetes
Final Thoughts
Diabetes is common but not hopeless. With the right tools and support, you can live a long, healthy life. If caught early, type 2 diabetes can even be reversed.
At Rx Health and Wellness, we believe in addressing the root causes of disease. We support you with personalized strategies using nutrition, movement, and functional medicine principles.
