Diabetes
What is diabetes? Diabetes is a
lifelong disease that develops when the pancreas either stops producing insulin
or cannot produce enough. Insulin lets blood sugar—also called glucose—enter
your body's cells, where it is used for energy. Without insulin, the amount of
sugar in the blood rises above a safe level, and the cells do not get the sugar
they need. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves
throughout your body and increase your risk of eye, heart, blood vessel, nerve,
and kidney diseases. If your blood sugar level becomes very high, a
life-threatening chemical imbalance (diabetic ketoacidosis) can develop.
How do we compare? Experts agree
on the following ways to monitor and treat diabetes. Click on the links below
to see how WellSpan compares to other providers in these treatments.