---
url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/diabetes'
title: Diabetes
author:
  name: hia-admin
  url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/user/1'
date: '2018-05-07T17:40:30+00:00'
updated: '2023-04-27T16:55:57+00:00'
type: topic
summary: 'Having high levels of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream puts you at risk for a variety of other health issues. That can make diabetes an especially challenging disease for older adults to manage.'
tags:
  - Health
published: true
---
 Diabetes happens when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. Insulin problems can cause blood glucose levels to be too high.

Diabetes affects people differently.



 



 

 [Basic Facts

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/basic-facts) 

 

 [Causes

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/causes) 

 

 [Symptoms

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/symptoms) 

 

 [Diagnosis & Tests

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/tests) 

 

 [Care & Treatment

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/care-treatment) 

 

 [Lifestyle & Management

 ](/a-z-topic/diabetes/lifestyle)