What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease. It means your blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs it for energy. But too much glucose in your blood is not good for your health.

Why should I control my Diabetes?
If you control your diabetes, it can help you feel better and stay healthy. Keeping your blood glucose close to normal lowers your chances of having heart, eye, kidney, and nerve problems. To control your diabetes, you need to know your blood glucose numbers.

Type I Diabetes
Type I diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In type I diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Type I diabetes may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age.

Type II Diabetes
Type II is the most common form of diabetes. In type II diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, and was previously known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Type II diabetes may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly.

Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't Panic. Diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.