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# Where can I learn about diabetes?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/where_can_i_learn_about_diabetes_031120090937/
- Published: 2009-11-03T21:36:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:13:47.000Z
- Description: A reference page explaining that diabetes raises blood glucose because the pancreas makes too little insulin or cells use it poorly, and pointing readers to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the National Diabetes Education Program and FDA material on glucose meters.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, Diabetes, #vivvo-import

[Diabetes](http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/?ref=foodconsumer.org) is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy.

People develop diabetes because the pancreas does not make enough insulin or because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly, or both. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood increases while the cells are starved of energy. Although researchers do not fully understand why some people get diabetes and others do not, it is clear that [certain factors increase your risk](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002072.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org).

For additional information, you may wish to visit the [National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)](http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/?ref=foodconsumer.org), which is a service of the [National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)](http://www.niddk.nih.gov/?ref=foodconsumer.org). You may wish to contact the NDIC by e-mail at [ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov](mailto:ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov), or by phone or mail at:

Phone: 1.800.860.8747  
TTY: 1.866.569.1162  
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse  
1 Information Way  
Bethesda, MD 20892-3560

You may also wish to visit the website of the [National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)](http://www.ndep.nih.gov/?ref=foodconsumer.org).

Finally, you may also wish to view [information about glucose meters](http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049051.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org) from the [Food and Drug Administration (FDA)](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=4319&p%5Fsid=nQONT4Mj&p%5Flva=7271&ref=foodconsumer.org).

**Diabetes Health Observances:**

- March 24 is [American Diabetes Alert Day](http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/american-diabetes-alert.jsp?ref=foodconsumer.org), designated to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes.
- November is [American Diabetes Month](http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/americandiabetesmonth.jsp?ref=foodconsumer.org), designated to raise awareness about risk factors, prevention, and treatment of this serious disease.