What causes diabetes? Scientists aren't sure, but heredity, obesity, lack of exercise and other factors play a part.

Understanding how food affects blood glucose is the first step in managing diabetes. And following a diabetes meal plan can help keep you on track.

Ignoring your symptoms can end up costing more in the long run because many conditions are more quickly and easily treated if diagnosed in their early stages.

A person with type 2 diabetes either can't make enough insulin or can't properly use it.

Although people with pre-diabetes haven’t yet developed full-blown diabetes, they’re still at risk because studies show that many people with pre-diabetes develop the condition within 10 years.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that greatly raises your risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Having pre-diabetes means that you are likely to develop full-blown diabetes within 10 years. But lifestyle changes can prevent that from happening.

If you're older than 45, you should be tested for diabetes. If you are younger, you should be tested if you are at high risk.

In adults, a screening blood sugar test is generally used to determine if your blood sugar is too high. For adults, having an elevated blood sugar usually will not give you symptoms and may indicate a pending or current problem with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be especially deadly for women. Of the nearly 16 million Americans with diabetes, more than half are female.

"If you do have diabetes, educate yourself and start managing your illness," Ms. LaBelle says.

Metabolic syndrome is marked by higher levels of glucose in the blood. That's also a sign of pre-diabetes.