Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Normally, ingested food is converted by the body into a sugar called glucose. With the help of insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the use of sugar in the body, glucose is turned into energy. With diabetes, because the body does not produce or properly use insulin, this does not happen and the unused glucose builds up in the body.

The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

According to the American Diabetes Association there are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes can lead to other serious health problems such as: heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, foot and skin problems, nerve damage, depression, eye problems and blindness.


Types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes
When the pancreas fails to produce insulin to convert food into energy for our body. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes
When the body fails to properly use the insulin produced by the pancreas (insulin resistance) and the pancreas may not produce enough insulin (insulin deficiency).  Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year. Women who had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes
•    Urinating frequently
•    Being very thirsty
•    Being very hungry
•    Being more tired than usual
•    Unusual weight loss
•    Blurry vision

Are You At Risk?
While the cause of diabetes is unknown, there are factors that make a person more at risk for diabetes. Risk factors include:  
• being over 45 years of age
• being very overweight compared to your height (body mass index)
• low physical activity
• race or ethnic background (Aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian, or African descent have a higher risk)
• a parent, brother or sister with diabetes (family history)
• high blood pressure
• history of diabetes during pregnancy

For more information on diabetes call the American Diabetes Association at 800-342-2383 or visit their website at http://www.diabetes.org.