As your Knox County Community Health Center, we wanted to spend a few minutes sharing information with you to help you understand this disease. If treated, it can be managed and you can live a full and healthy life.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes can occur in children as well as adults. Insulin (a hormone made by the pancreas) is important in our bodies because its job is to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells in our bodies. Glucose is blood sugar that is broken down from the carbohydrates we eat that gets into our cells to be used for energy. When our bodies aren’t producing insulin, using it properly, or not making enough of it, blood sugar levels are too high, and this is diabetes.

Diabetes Types

Type 1—Type 1 can occur at any age and in anyone, regardless of gender, size, shape, and race, but children and young adults are at the most risk for developing type 1 diabetes. Insulin is not produced in the pancreas with type 1 diabetes and our bodies must have insulin to survive. Insulin, as well as other types of treatment, help to manage the disease. Children and young adults are at the most risk for type 1.

Type 2—Type 2 is the more common form of diabetes. Plainly speaking, it means our bodies don’t make enough insulin or don’t use the insulin properly. Many people use diet and exercise to control the blood glucose levels, but others need insulin or medication to manage symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes—This occurs in pregnant women and usually goes away after the birth of the baby. There is a risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life if you had gestational diabetes.

Symptoms

A yearly check-up usually includes a blood sugar test, which is an effective way to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes. But there are symptoms that you should pay attention to and seek medical care if you have any of these symptoms, not explained by other health issues.

• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Urinating frequently
• Being hungry even if you’re eating
• Unexplained weight loss (Type 1)
• Numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet (Type 2)
• Blurry vision
• Extreme fatigue
• Cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal
• Treatment

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed with…

• A healthy diet including whole grains, vegetables. Fruits, non-dairy foods, lean meats, and healthy fats
• Staying active
• Different medicines, including insulin
• Monitoring blood sugar levels
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Left untreated, diabetes can lead to other health problems, including heart disease, nerve damage, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, and dental disease.

If you need more information, think you might have diabetes, or need to schedule your physical and get your blood sugar tested, call us at to make an appointment with our staff. We are here to keep you healthy!

Main Site - Knox County Community Health Center

11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon

Moore Family Practice

206 South Mulberry Street, Mt Vernon

Danville Community Health Center

12 East Main Street, Danville

Schedule at any location by calling 740-399-8008

Updated: 6/27/23