What is diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when blood glucose (sugar) levels stay abnormally high because the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, or the body’s cells resist its effect. Type 1 usually starts in childhood and requires insulin from diagnosis. Type 2 develops gradually, often linked to weight and lifestyle, and is the most common form worldwide. Gestational diabetes appears during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery, though it raises future risk.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
- Excessive thirst and frequent urination
- Unexplained fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing wounds or frequent infections
- Unintended weight loss (more common in type 1)
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet (in longstanding cases)
Type 2 diabetes can develop silently for years before symptoms appear, which is why routine screening matters.
What causes diabetes?
- Type 1: an autoimmune process where the body attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas; the exact trigger isn’t fully understood.
- Type 2: a combination of genetics, excess body weight, sedentary lifestyle, and age-related insulin resistance.
- Gestational: hormonal changes during pregnancy that increase insulin resistance.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Diagnosis is confirmed with blood tests: fasting glucose, HbA1c (average blood sugar over 3 months), or an oral glucose tolerance test. At Hospital CMQ, lab results are typically available the same day, allowing your doctor to start a treatment plan right away.
What is the treatment for diabetes?
- Type 1: lifelong insulin therapy, matched to meals and activity, with regular glucose monitoring.
- Type 2: often starts with lifestyle changes (diet, physical activity, weight management) plus oral medication; insulin may be added later if needed.
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function, and eye exams to catch complications early.
- A registered dietitian and endocrinologist typically work together on your long-term plan.
Everything under one roof
Lab testing, endocrinology consultation, nutrition counseling, and follow-up imaging are all available in the same visit, at any of our 3 locations.
Noticing symptoms or need to get your blood sugar checked? Message us on WhatsApp to schedule same-day lab work.
When should you go to the ER for diabetes?
Seek emergency care immediately for: confusion or difficulty waking up, fruity-smelling breath with rapid breathing (possible diabetic ketoacidosis), blood sugar readings above 300 mg/dL that don’t come down, or a wound that looks infected and isn’t healing.
How can diabetes be prevented or delayed?
- Maintain a healthy weight and stay physically active most days of the week.
- Choose whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein over processed and sugary foods.
- Get routine blood sugar screening starting at age 35, or earlier if you have risk factors.
- Manage stress and get adequate sleep, both of which affect blood sugar control.
Reviewed by: Dra. Itzel Aguayo, General Medicine, and Dr. David Hernández, Internal Medicine, Hospital CMQ. Review date: July 2026. References: World Health Organization (WHO), American Diabetes Association, Mayo Clinic.