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More Information
American Diabetes Association
(Spanish & English information)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Publications About Diabetes
Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? (English)
¿Corro el riesgo de que me dé diabetes
tipo 2? (Spanish)
Diabetes Fact Sheet (Khmer)
Diabetes Management
Several health professionals at LCHC who specialize in diabetes management, education and screening. Meet with a diabetes specialist at the Health Center to determine is you are at risk for diabetes. Click here to view a list.
Diabetes Overview
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and 
environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.
This is information excerpted from the American Diabetes Association.
