We offer support, education and specialized expertise to help you manage diabetes and related health conditions.
Medically reviewed by Gabrielle Burt, RN on Dec. 18, 2023.
About 37 million adults in the U.S. (more than 11%) have diabetes. At UC Davis Health, we’re recognized regionally and nationally for our expertise with this disease and all metabolic and endocrine disorders.
U.S. News & World Report ranks us among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for both adult and pediatric diabetes and endocrinology. We’re also a high performing hospital for diabetes, with outcomes and patient care exceeding national averages.
Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) refers to a common group of conditions that occur when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It is a metabolic disorder, which means your body can't properly make energy from the food you eat.
When you have diabetes, your body has problems making or using insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows your cells to use the glucose in your blood.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious health complications. Some types of diabetes are reversible, while others are long-term (chronic) and require lifelong care.
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal. It indicates that you’re at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. About 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have the condition because it rarely causes symptoms.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease typically diagnosed during childhood. Your immune system attacks cells in your pancreas, which keep it from making enough insulin. This form of diabetes tends to run in families (inherited) and is not related to lifestyle factors.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, affecting between 90% and 95% of people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin well. It’s often related to obesity and lifestyle factors.
Gestational diabetes can develop when your body doesn’t make enough insulin during pregnancy. It affects between 2% and 10% of pregnancies each year. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born but increases the mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Prediabetes doesn’t usually cause symptoms, so many people don’t realize they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes until problems develop. Visit your health care provider if you notice any of the following common symptoms.
Seek medical care immediately or call 911 if you experience symptoms of dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemic emergency).
Your pancreas plays an important role in digestion and metabolism. It produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin carries sugar from your bloodstream to your muscle and fat cells, which store or convert the sugar to energy. This helps regulate blood glucose levels because it moves sugar out of your bloodstream.
When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make or use insulin as it should. Your pancreas might not make enough insulin, which occurs with type 1 diabetes. Or your cells might develop insulin resistance, which means they don’t accept insulin or the sugar it carries.
Risk factors increase your chances of developing a condition. Obesity and physical inactivity are the two biggest risk factors for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Fasting blood glucose test: This blood test measures the amount of sugar in your blood after you’ve been fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for about eight hours. A blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or higher means you have diabetes.
An A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over two to three months. An A1C of 6.5% or higher means you have diabetes.
This test measures the amount of glucose in your blood before and for several hours after you consume a sugary drink. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher after two hours means you have diabetes.
Unmanaged diabetes can lead to chronically high blood sugar and serious health complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, blindness and lower limb amputations.
Nerve damage and reduced circulation due to diabetes can lead to slow- or non-healing foot sores prone to infection.
High blood sugar increases the risk of problems in your mouth, such as cavities, bleeding gums and tooth decay.
Diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels in your ears. People with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss as people without diabetes.
Diabetes, which is often accompanied by high cholesterol and high blood pressure, damages blood vessels and can lead to coronary artery disease.
Chronic (long-term) high blood glucose damages blood vessels and nerves in your kidneys so they don’t work as well as they should. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage due to diabetes. It can lead to tingling, numbness or weakness in your arms, legs, hands and feet.
Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the blood vessels in your retina. Poor blood flow in your retina can lead to blurred vision or blindness.
At UC Davis Health, we help you manage diabetes for life. A team of endocrinologists, internal medicine physicians, registered dietitians, certified diabetes education nurses and other experts oversees your care. We also have the specialists you need for diabetes complicated by heart disease, kidney disease and related conditions.
We offer diabetes health education classes, diabetes testing and convenient diabetes clinics throughout Sacramento. You receive the individualized guidance and support you need to live a longer, healthier life.
Daily blood glucose checks are an important part of diabetes management. You may use a blood glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitor. Your provider can help you decide which method is right for you.
Some people with diabetes take insulin to control their blood sugar levels. You can take insulin using a needle, pen, pump or inhaler. We may recommend other medicines to help your body make more insulin or process sugar more efficiently.
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help you regulate your blood sugar, lose weight and keep your cholesterol and blood pressure under control. A registered dietitian can help you select food that fits your medical and nutritional needs.
Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable, but you can lower your risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by:
Find out if weight loss medications can really help you lose weight
"Prediabetes – Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html
"What is Diabetes?" CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html
"Gestational Diabetes," CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html
"Diabetes Complications," Endocrine Society, https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/diabetes-complications
"Diabetes and Hearing Loss," CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/diabetes-hearing-loss.html
37MPeople have diabetes
8thLeading cause of death in the U.S.
1 in 5People don’t know they have diabetes
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Diabetes Fast Facts
As Sacramento's No. 1 hospital, you'll benefit from unique advantages in primary care and specialty care. This includes prevention, diagnosis and treatment options from experts in 150 specialties.
To refer a patient, you can submit an electronic referral form or call.
For questions and appointment information
We offer diabetes diagnosis and treatment at four of our clinics throughout the Sacramento region.
location_on 8110 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95758
call 916-683-3955
location_on 271 Turn Pike Drive, Folsom, CA 95630
call 916-985-9300
location_on 1620 E. Roseville Pkwy., Roseville, CA 95661
call 916‑783‑7109
location_on 500 University Ave., Sacramento, CA 95825
call 916-286-8700
A U.S. News & World Report best hospital in cancer, cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ENT, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pulmonology & lung surgery.
A U.S. News & World Report best children’s hospital in diabetes & endocrinology, nephrology, and orthopedics*. (*Together with Shriners Children’s)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in back surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, and gastroenterology & GI surgery.
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
One of ~56 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.