Info About Diabetes

Diabetes is a scary and terrifying disease. You go along for quite a while and think you're doing fine, but meanwhile, diabetes is ravaging your body.

Blurred vision. Numbness and tingling in the legs. They don't seem much at first. But they lead to blindness, being wheelchair-bound or even gangrene and amputation.

It doesn't have to be like that. Diabetes type 2 is one of the easiest diseases to halt in its tracks. One of the easiest to control and even cure. And it doesn't take a lot of expensive presciptions to do it, either.

So welcome to this site. I hope you will find some good information here, as well as on my main Info About Diabetes site (where I go into a little more depth).

So just what is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Is there anyone particularly at risk for either of these diseases? Let's take a look.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. It's known as juvenile because it most often shows up in childhood or early teen years.

With diabetes type 1, the pancreas's beta cells (which are responsible for producing insulin) are damaged. This appears to be genetic, and does tend to run in families. Diabetes type one is an auto-immune disease, and the person affected almost always needs to take insulin for life.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type two is often called adult-onset or late-onset diabetes. However, this is becoming a bit incorrect these days, as more and more children are suffering from this disease.

Diabetes type 2 is more of a metabolic disorder, rather than a genetic error. The pancreas can make sufficient insulin for normal circumstances, but the sufferer loads his or her body with sugar (in any one of several forms). The pancreas simply can't keep up with the increased sugar load.

Yes, diabetes can be cured! But it takes some work on your part. If you're not willing to take the necessary steps, you're going to end up on medication for the rest of your life -- or worse!

What's Needed?

If you guessed "diet and exercise", you guessed right. Here's why.

The foods you eat determine the amount of glucose (sugar) is roaming around in your bloodstream. The fewer sugar and sugar-like foods you eat, the less glucose is in your bloodstream.

As far as exercise, think about it: exercise uses your muscles, and muscles burn glucose for energy. The more you exercise, the more sugar is pulled out of the bloodstream to provide energy for your muscles.

Now keep in mind this: everyone who has diabetes can benefit from a healthy diet and even a moderate amount of exercise. Most people's diabetes can be controlled, if not downright cured, using these two tools.

Not everyone with type 2 diabetes can be cured; it depends on how far gone your pancreas is. But everyone can be helped.

This about these things, the next time you are considering a donut or skipping your walk. And do the right thing instead.