Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in America. Other complications of
diabetes are kidney failure, heart disease and stroke, skin complications, and nerve damage.

The most common symptoms of diabetes are the following:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision

Our body's are an awesome piece of work. Most of the symptoms are the body's way of
trying to stabilize the blood glucose levels. The frequent urination is the body's attempt
to rid the excess sugar (glucose). The extreme hunger is because the excess glucose in
the body is floating in the blood stream instead of being utilized in the body's cells.

There are two types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes is also called Insulin Dependent Diabetes. This is when the body is no longer
producing any insulin at all and artificial insulin must be administered through the form
of an injection.

Type 2 Diabetes is also called Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes. This is when the body is still
producing it's own insulin only it's not enough to meet the requirements needed to keep blood
sugar (glucose) levels normal. Usually, OHA (oral hypoglycemic agents) - pills are prescribed.
Often, changing your eating habits or loosing weight can be very therapeutic for returning
your blood glucose levels to normal.

Now the word "normal" often gives me goose bumps. You see what's normal for me may not be
normal for you. Nevertheless, we have to have some sort of baseline to base these type things
on. So, for the sake of knowledge, let's just say normal fasting (haven't eaten anything)
blood glucose levels should be 80-120.

A diagnosis of diabetes is usually given if the fasting blood glucose level is 200 on two
separate occasions.

Roschelle Nelson is the founder of Wah4life.com. She lives and works at home with her
husband and two sons. Visit her website: wah4life.com and wah4life.blogspot.com

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