Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder that occurs when your pancreas either totally stops producing insulin or does not produce enough of the hormone for your body's needs. This results in a low absorption of glucose, both by the cells, which need it for energy, and by the liver, which stores it. Another result is a high level of glucose in your blood.
Symptoms of Diabetes:
Risks of Diabetes:
While daily blood glucose testing tells you what your blood sugar level is at the time you test, HbA1c testing tells you your "average" blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.
These tests are very important in protecting your long-term health. Maintaining good HbA1c levels will help reduce your risk of diabetes complications such as blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, stroke, and heart failure.
