Diabetes Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ

Diabetes mellitus, often referred to simply as diabetes, is a group of metabolic conditions characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar. Diabetes results from problems with insulin action or secretion from the pancreas.

There is no cure for diabetes, and it persists throughout life. However, diet, exercise, and medication can help manage glucose levels and prevent complications.

Diabetes affects many different body systems and causes a number of symptoms, including excessive hunger and/or thirst, dry mouth, increased urination, tiredness, unexplained weight loss, headaches, and vision changes. Poor healing of sores, vaginal infections, impotence, weight gain, numbness or tingling of the extremities, and itchy skin can also be associated with diabetes.

Blood sugar levels are controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced in and secreted by the pancreas.

Those with increased body fat are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Risk is greatest for those with excess fat carried around the waist. These people are also at increased risk for hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and heart disease compared with those who are lean or carry fat around the hips.

Prediabetes has been referred to as "impaired glucose tolerance" and is thought to be an early, potentially reversible, stage of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can cause damage to many different organs, including the nerves, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It occurs in about 4% of pregnant women and carries an increased risk for complications of pregnancy.

Diabetes affects the way the body's immune system responds and can increase the odds of developing infections. High levels of glucose can cause infections to develop and spread more readily.

People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin and must take insulin injections.

People with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their bodies cannot respond properly to the insulin that is made.

Diabetes insipidus is different from diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is characterized by an inability of the kidneys to conserve water, resulting in large volumes of dilute urine and frequent thirst.