State of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Diabetes happens when the body is unable to use insulin (a hormone that helps the body break down sugar in food so it can be used as energy) properly. When this happens, glucose accumulates in the blood and over time can cause serious health problems like eye damage and nerve damage in your feet.
People who develop Type 2 diabetes often have prediabetes first. This is a stage when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to indicate diabetes. It is still possible to prevent diabetes from developing once you have prediabetes!
To help prevent diabetes: