The amateur explanation for what Diabetes really is would have to be; a disease in which blood glucose levels are higher then they should be. When you suffer from diabetes, your body is either unable to produce enough insulin or isn't equipped to use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes a dangerous blood sugar buildup, since insulin is essential in breaking the blood sugar down. Insulin is a hormone that is created in the pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach. Its function is to break the blood sugar down and help the glucose get into the cells of our bodies. Then why not cut the sugar rich foods out altogether? Our Bodies need a certain amount of the blood sugar to have energy and stay healthy. The sudden drop of blood sugar is just as dangerous and can cause the human body to pass out.

Diabetes is nothing to joke about or take lightly. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the USA and is linked to many serious health problems/complications like heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

Diabetes is set up in Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes was formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes and is insulin dependent. With this type of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer produce insulin since the body's immune system has already attacked and destroyed them.

Type 2 Diabetes was formerly known as Adult Diabetes and is the most common version of Diabetes. This type of Diabetes is not necessarily insulin dependent. However, don't let the Name fool you, type 2 can be developed at any age including as a Child. What makes this form of Diabetes different from type 1? This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, meaning that your fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. It begins with the pancreas keeping up with the added demand by producing more insulin, but eventually loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals.

A lesser and mostly temporary form of diabetes is gestational diabetes this can be developed in the final stages of pregnancy. However, it soon goes away, leaving the woman at higher risk to develop Type 2 Diabetes at a later date.

If Blood Sugar levels are the culprit here, then what are healthy levels?

A measure of glucose is found in every person. The normal range is about 70 to 120 in Folks without Diabetes. Blood glucose goes up after eating but 1 or 2 hours later returns to the normal range.

What are the some of the signs of Diabetes?

Signs include: being very thirsty , urinating often, feeling very hungry or tired, unintentional weight loss, slow healing sores, dry and itchy skin, loosing feeling in your feet or on the other side having tingling in our feet, blurry eyesight.

For most Diabetes sufferers they found that they had one or more of these signs before they were diagnosed with Diabetes. Others however had no signs at all. Since these symptoms are not automatically the sign that you have Diabetes, a blood test to check your glucose levels will show if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes is necessary. So please don't stress before you have the results back.

What should I do if I have Diabetes?

Your Doctor will inform you of your Stage and the extreme of the diabetes. More and likely he will give you a pamphlet that will explain things a little more detailed. However, you should be careful of the types of foods you eat. The frequency of your meals. Exercise is very important as well as a generally healthy lifestyle. If you smoke, ask your Doctor to help you quit. If others smoke around you, ask them to take it outside. Being obese is a very big risk factor for developing type 2 Diabetes as is inactivity. If you are required to take medication or insulin make certain that you do it on the times specified. Don't forget to take it or refuse to take it. Amputations of Toes, feet or legs are not a pleasant thing to happen to anyone.

Make certain that you check your glucose levels daily. The Doctor will show you how to do this properly and thanks to advanced technology it has become a lot less painful.

Don't allow Diabetes to control you and your life; Control your Diabetes!

One of the worst things you could do is giving up. Don't skip meals and if you are having a bad day, handle it wisely. There are things you can do. Stay positive and active. Keep a Journal and write down the meals you have eaten, how you have felt. What has affected your moods and blood levels? If you have a dip to hyperglycemia (glucose levels dropped too low) drink a cup of milk or eat a spoon of honey. You can drink a small glass of orange juice or eat 5 or 6 pieces of candy.

Stay informed about the newest treatments and monitor coming on the market. You can join a support group or ask your friends and family to help you. Don't sweep your ailment under the carpet or make it worst then it is. Remember that there is help and with specific steps you can lead a fairly normal life.

The Diabetes Organizations have put several good Websites up. Google search them and read through the provided Information carefully.