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Author:
Jay Stockman

Do you find yourself going to the bathroom more than usual? Are you unusually hungry or thirsty? Is fatigue a normal, everyday feeling? Does spontaneous, blurred vision interfere with you daily life? If this sounds like you, you may have Diabetes. Diabetes effects over sixteen million Americans, and many people are unaware they have it. Every day, 2,200 new cases of Diabetes are diagnosed in the United States. Diabetes is characterized by a high level of sugar in the blood, as a result of defective insulin secretion, or insulin resistance. Although we tend to group all people with Diabetes together, the truth is that there are two different types of Diabetes that are similar in their elevated blood sugar, but different in many other ways.
Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, and young adults. It is characterized by the Pancreas' inability to produce insulin. It is thought that this inability arises from an autoimmune condition. Basically the body is killing its own insulin producing cells. The symptoms of type 1 Diabetes are very obvious, frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss. The onset is usually abrupt, and severe. In addition, having type 1 Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Treatment consists of intermediate or long-acting insulin (taken once or twice daily) with fast- or rapid-acting insulin injections taken at mealtimes.
Type 2 Diabetes often develops rather insidiously, showing few or no symptoms. The symptoms are similar to type 1, however they develop gradually over time. This may explain why it often goes undetected at first. The cells of the body being resistant to insulin characterize the most common form of diabetes, type 2. The Pancreas still produces insulin, however the body cannot use it efficiently. Type 2 usually develops in men or women over 40 years of age, characterized by obesity, and lack of physical activity. In particular, people who are an "apple-shape" - with lots of fat around the abdomen - are at greater risk of developing diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes runs in families, and is particularly common among people of African-Caribbean or Asian origin. Similarly, having type 2 Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, as type 1. Unlike type 1, type 2 Diabetes can usually be controlled with diet, exercise or medicines.
If you suspect you may have Diabetes, it is important to see your doctor, especially if you fall into any of the categories previously mentioned. Discovering you have Diabetes is frightening, don't panic, people with Diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives. Eat right and exercise. It's a simple prescription that will keep you healthy, whether you have diabetes or not.
About the Author
Dr. Jay B Stockman O.D. is a contributing editor for Vision Update and a practicing Doctor of Optometry. He has extensive experience in Diabetes Management. Visit http://visionupdate.net/ for more information.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Diabetes Guides... Problems and Symptoms in Different Types of Diabetes There are three different types of diabetes and each category has its own problems and symptoms that are specific to it. The first of these types of diabetes is Type 1, also known as "insulin dependent". This type of diabetes is called Juvenile diabetes because it manifests anytime in the first 30 years of someone's life. This type of diabetes needs to be controlled with the use of insulin, which must be given one or more times each day. Someone that has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes will have to maintain a strict diet of what they eat and they'll have to monitor their blood levels several times each day so that they know exactly where their blood sugar level is at. If these blood sugar levels aren't carefully monitored and managed kidney damage can occur. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include thirst, an increase in urination, urine that seems to have a dark color to it, vision that is blurred, tingling in the feet and hands, and sudden loss of weight. The second kind of diabetes is Type 2, also known as "non-insulin" diabetes. This type of diabetes will usually occur in the later years of someone's life. The cause is often poor health and poor nutrition. In most cases this type of diabetes doesn't require the use of insulin. The most important way to manage Type 2 diabetes is with a proper diet and exercise. It is vital that person's with Type 2 are under the care of a doctor who can help them to manage their health. Symptoms of Type 2 are thirst, an increase in urination, burred vision, stomach cramps, and sores that don't heal properly. The third type of diabetes is Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy. The mother to be will feel very tired, have frequent headaches, and experience dizziness. This type of ...