Types

• The pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that lowers blood-sugar (glucose) levels in the blood after you eat. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas cannot produce insulin. It is usually diagnosed during childhood or early adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is caused by an inability of your body to use the insulin that the pancreas makes, or the pancreas not producing enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in adults over 40, although its incidence is increasing in children.
  
  

Features

• Symptoms of either type of diabetes include increased thirst, weight gain or weight loss, fatigue and the need to urinate more often. Diabetes can cause cuts and scrapes to heal more slowly, and you may bruise more easily. You may feel sensations of numbness or tingling in your arms, legs, hands or feet. High blood sugar can also reduce your immune function, and you may get sick more often. You may not notice any symptoms at all, especially with type 2 diabetes.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Type 1 diabetes must be managed through insulin injections, since the body does not produce its own insulin. Type 2 diabetes can be managed in some cases through a healthy diet and exercise. Avoid sugary and processed foods. Eat a healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Make sure you are eating some protein or fiber with each meal to slow the release of glucose from the food into your blood. You may need insulin injections if you have type 2 diabetes and your blood-sugar levels are not under control.
  Check your blood sugar regularly. See your doctor for an annual physical to ensure that you are keeping your blood-sugar levels under control.
  
  

Significance

• Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to numerous health complications. High blood-sugar levels can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. Diabetes can impair circulation to your hands, feet, legs and eyes---causing sores or ulcers that don't heal and damaging your vision. Your nerves can also be affected by high blood sugar, leading to loss of feeling and sensation in your extremities.
  
  

Considerations

• Lack of exercise and the increasing prevalence of obesity is contributing to the increasing incidence of diabetes around the world. Exercise can help you to better utilize the insulin your body does produce. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of developing diabetes and help lower your risk of complications associated with diabetes, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.