There are 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. alone who have this disease. Proper diet is very important.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It helps move the glucose into cells.

When healthy, your pancreas automatically regulates the amount of insulin your body needs because it monitors the glucose levels in your blood. However, in diabetics, this process stops working the way it should and blood sugar levels become too high.

The problem is that left unchecked, this disease can impair many of the functions of the body. It can damage heart blood vessels, vision, kidneys, and most every function of the body. Oxidation or free-radical creation happens faster when blood sugars are elevated. Elevated blood sugars and elevated insulin levels can damage the body's organs and its ability to function properly, as well as also cause other diseases.

Micro blood vessel damage is caused by sugar (an oxidant) linking with blood vessel proteins (collagen), causing scarring and blood vessel blockage.

This micro blood vessel damage is what causes neuropathy (nerve pain) and edema (excess fluid in the tissues) in the body's extremities, (especially the legs). Because blood cannot properly perfuse into the extremities, this can lead to ulcerations and amputations. It also causes kidney damage (nephropathy) and even blindness (retinopathy). The eyes are especially vulnerable because they have a vast network of micro blood vessels.

What are the Major Types?

Type I: Body Can't Make Its Own Insulin

Type I is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. A person with Type I can't make any insulin within their pancreas. Type I can be caused by a genetic disorder, but the origins are not fully understood.

However, no matter the cause, the result is that the pancreas produces very little or no insulin and frequent insulin injections are needed if you have been diagnosed with Type I.

Type II usually occurs in adults over 35 years old, but can affect anyone, including children. About 95% of all diabetic are Type II.

The reason for this is because it's a lifestyle disease triggered by obesity, lack of exercise, increased age and to some degree, can also be inherited genetically.

If other members of your family have this disease, you may genetically have a propensity to also have it.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women, and usually appears during the 2nd trimester and disappears after the birth of the baby.

Like Type I and Type II, your body can't use glucose, effectively and blood glucose levels get too high. When it is not controlled, complications can affect both you and your baby.

Your doctor helps you begin a diet and exercise plan and possibly medication as soon as possible to decrease your risk of blood sugar problems during the pregnancy.

It also increases your risk for developing it again during future pregnancies and can also raise your risk for having Type II later on in your life.

Pre-Diabetes

Pre-Diabetes means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin or your pancreas is not producing enough insulin.

Blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough yet to be labeled as diabetes. A diagnosis of Pre-Diabetes is a warning sign that this disease will develop at a later time.

The good news is you can prevent the development of Type II by losing weight and making changes in your diet, consuming more antioxidants and exercising.

What Causes This Disease?

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

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. who are diabetic. An estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) of those who have it, are unaware that they have the disease.

How Do I Know If I Have It?

In order to know whether or not you have this disease, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).

Either test can be used to diagnose this disease. The FPG is recommended because is is easier, faster and less expensive to perform.

If the fasting blood glucose with the FPG test is between 100 and 125 mg/dl that signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

In the OGTT test, the blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage.

If the 2-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the 2-hour blood glucose level is 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

What Changes Can I Make to Either Prevent or Manage This Disease?

Managing Diabetes If you have diabetes, by now your physician has probably put you on a diabetic diet. You should ask your physician before consuming anything other than what is on your diet, and consult him on what physical activity (exercises) would be best for you.

Find a physical activity (exercise) that will work for you.

Here's an article from a site dedicated to exercise and weight loss on a diabetic diet that explains the diabetes food pyramid.

Of course, you need to check with your physician before trying this product.

If you or someone you know has diabetes, encourage them to talk with their physician, keep close track of their sugar and try to consume as many sugar-friendly antioxidants as possible and increase your physical activity. Diabetes Health is an excellent resource for more information about this disease and its complications.

Preventing Diabetes

If you're trying to prevent this disease, you should take a look at the way you eat and make changes, if needed, to your diet. You need to be consuming the recommended daily amounts of antioxidants , and watch your fat intake. Our bodies need some fat, but too much fat is not good.

Also, find some kind of physical activity you like to do and do it daily if at all possible.

And,...take heart,...there are many different ways to consume more antioxidants to get the quality of life you deserve. You just have to take care of yourself, eat right and exercise.

Natural Supplements and fresh foods full of antioxidants is the key to optimal health, and will help us grow older gracefully so we will have the energy to play with those grandchildren, go explore the countryside and walk the mall.

ntioxidants, even if you are not a fruits and vegetables lover.

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