Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease of metabolism, which is the way your body uses food for energy and growth. It is specifically related to the body's inability to use glucose.

Common symptoms include unusual thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, extreme hunger, irritability, and mood changes. Diabetes doesn’t always cause symptoms, making it hard to diagnose.

The exact causes of diabetes are not fully understood and typically involve multiple factors, such as genetics and interactions with the environment.

The most common test for diagnosing any kind of diabetes is the oral glucose tolerance test.

The main types of treatment for diabetes are lifestyle changes that include a healthy diet and improved activity levels as well as oral medicines and sometimes insulin injections.

NICHD has a large and active research portfolio on diabetes, its associated conditions, and its treatments.

NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research projects related to diabetes.

Find answers to other common questions about diabetes, such as how to prevent it, how it affects pregnancy, and other health problems connected to diabetes.

Links to websites of groups that study or provide information about diabetes.