What is Type 1 Diabetes?

This type of diabetes was previously known as juvenile diabetes and is typically diagnosed in children and young adults.

The body does not produce insulin.

What is insulin?

It is a hormone needed to convert starches, sugar (glucose) and other foods into energy. Energy is needed for daily life activities.

Type I Diabetes is a chronic condition with no cure, but the outlook for people living with this disease is far better than it was 20 years ago.

There has been much advancement in medicine, research and patient education reducing disabling complications and extended the expectancies of life to those without diabetes.

If you have diabetes you can live just as long as people without diabetes with the proper treatment and educating themselves on this disease.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

With type 2 the body does not produce enough insulin or the cell just simply ignores the insulin. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes.

You need insulin in order for the body to be able to use sugar. The basic fuel for your cells is sugar.

Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose does not go into the cells but builds up in the blood instead it can cause problems.

The problems it could, over time create high glucose levels could hurt your heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.

What are the most common symptoms for adults with Type II Diabetes? The answer is fatigue, blurred vision, thirst, and excessive urination.

Do you think you may be diabetic? Check with your doctor.

With type II diabetes, minor weight loss can greatly improve your blood glucose levels.

If you have diabetes:

• Get under a doctors care.
• Watch what you eat.
• Limit your sweets,
• Limit fats and alcohol.

You can still eat good tasting foods and there are many diabetic food recipes available. Get on a doctor-approved exercise program and keep track of your glucose levels. Learn all you can about diabetes so you can take control of diabetes instead of allowing it control you.