Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search
Español | Other Languages
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Diabetes

Diabetes Basics

Español (Spanish) | Print
Minus
Related Pages
woman eating an apple, older couple riding bikes, a nurse weighing a man

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). More than 133 million Americans are living with diabetes (37.3 million) or prediabetes (96 million).

What is Diabetes?

Learn about the 3 main types of diabetes.

Diabetes Risk Factors

Factors that can increase your risk.

Diabetes Symptoms

Signs you may have diabetes.

Prediabetes

Your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Daily management for children and adults.

Type 2 Diabetes

Causes, treatment, and daily management.

Gestational Diabetes

Diagnosis and treatment overview.

Diabetes Tests

Tests to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.

Quick Facts

Diabetes by the numbers.

Learn More
  • National Diabetes Prevention Program
  • Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
  • Diabetes Awareness Campaigns
  • Living With Diabetes
  • Infographics
Last Reviewed: October 25, 2022
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Syndicate
homeDiabetes Home
  • Diabetes Basicsplus icon
    • What is Diabetes?
    • Diabetes Risk Factorsplus icon
      • PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Diabetes
    • Diabetes Symptoms
    • Prediabetes
    • Type 1 Diabetesplus icon
      • What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
      • Just Diagnosed
      • Types of Insulin
      • 4 Ways To Take Insulin
      • Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
      • How To Treat Low Blood Sugar
      • Diabetic Ketoacidosis
      • Making the Leap From Type 1 Teen to Adult
      • Managing Diabetes at School
    • Type 2 Diabetesplus icon
      • Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
    • Gestational Diabetes
    • Diabetes Tests
    • Diabetes Fast Facts
  • Prevent Type 2plus icon
    • Lost 170 Pounds and Regained His Life
    • On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
    • Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Kids
  • Living With Diabetesplus icon
    • Education and Support
    • Eat Wellplus icon
      • Diabetes Meal Planning
      • Grocery Shopping
      • Food Labels
      • Eating Out
      • Carb Counting
      • Diabetes & Kidney Disease: What to Eat?
    • Healthy Weight
    • Get Active!
    • Manage Blood Sugarplus icon
      • Monitoring Your Blood Sugar
      • All About Your A1C
    • Prevent Diabetes Complicationsplus icon
      • Heart Disease
      • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
      • Nerve Damageplus icon
        • Diabetes and Digestion
      • Foot Health
      • Oral Health
      • Hearing Loss
      • Vision Loss
      • Mental Health
    • Managing Sick Days
    • Your Diabetes Care Scheduleplus icon
      • 5 Questions to Ask Your Health Care Team
    • Diabetes Care During Emergencies
  • Data and Statisticsplus icon
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • National Diabetes Statistics Report
    • Diabetes and Obesity Maps
  • Information for Professionalsplus icon
    • Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
    • Community-based Organizations (CBO)
    • Insurers
    • Health Care Providersplus icon
      • How to Promote Ear Health for People With Diabetes
      • How to Promote Eye Health for People With Diabetes
      • How to Promote Foot Health for People With Diabetes
      • How to Promote Medication Management for People With Diabetes
      • How to Promote Oral Health for People With Diabetes
    • Employers and Worksites
    • Training and Capacity Buildingplus icon
      • New Beginnings
      • Road to Health Toolkit
      • Webinars and Videos
  • Resources and Publicationsplus icon
    • Reports and Publications
    • Research Summaries
    • Features
    • Fact Sheets and Toolkits
    • Evaluation Resources
    • Mediaplus icon
      • Social Mediaplus icon
        • Hack Your Snack!
        • Diabetes Complications
      • Awareness Campaigns
      • Infographicsplus icon
        • Diabetes Info Cards
      • DiabetesTV
      • Content Syndication
  • Researchplus icon
    • Applied Research and Surveillance
    • Health Policy and Health Services
    • Effectiveness Research
    • Publications
  • About Us
  • Awareness Campaignsplus icon
    • Do I Have Prediabetes?
    • Do I Have Prediabetes? Campaign Overview
  • Advancing Health Equityplus icon
    • By the Numbers: Diabetes in America
    • Increasing Access to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
    • Increasing Access to Diabetes Education
    • Promoting Health and Wellness in Indian Country
    • Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project
Social_govd govD Get Email Updates

To receive updates about diabetes topics, enter your email address:

What's this
DDT Websites
  • Diabetes Home
  • State, Local, and National Partner Diabetes Programs
  • National Diabetes Prevention Program
  • Native Diabetes Wellness Program
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Vision Health Initiative
Related CDC Websites
  • Heart Disease and Stroke
  • Overweight & Obesity
  • About CDC
  • Contact Us
  • 800-232-4636
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
  • Contact Us
    Call 800-232-4636
    Email Us
    • About CDC
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Accessibility
    • External Links
    • Privacy
    • Policies
    • No Fear Act
    • FOIA
    • OIG
    • Nondiscrimination
    • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Youtube
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Email
    • Español
    • 繁體中文
    • Tiếng Việt
    • 한국어
    • Tagalog
    • Русский
    • العربية
    • Kreyòl Ayisyen
    • Français
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
    • فارسی
    • English
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
  • Accessibility
  • External Links
  • Privacy
  • Policies
  • No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • Nondiscrimination
  • OIG
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
  • USA.gov
SAS stats

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
  • Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
  • You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
  • CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.