You can eat most anything. You have to learn what foods make sense, how often you should eat and what quantities you can enjoy. Once you get the hang of eating a health diet, you can relax and dig into a wide variety of delicious meals and snacks.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Millions of people have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans are at higher risk than the rest of the population.

With type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

How Do I Control My Blood Sugar?

There are many tools and strategies to monitor your condition. To prevent serious complications, and feel better while living with diabetes, you may need to check your blood with a Blood Glucose Meter. Choose the best make for your needs and learn how to use it. To get an overall picture of your average blood glucose for the past 2 or 3 months have your doctor check your A1C Level.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes

• Frequent Urination
• Unusual Thirst
• Extreme Hunger
• Unusual Weight Loss
• Extreme Fatigue and Irritability

Type 2 Diabetes

• Any of the Type 1 Symptoms
• Frequent Infections
• Blurred Vision
• Cuts / Bruises That Are slow to Heal
• Tingling /Numbness In the Hands and Feet
• Recurring Skin, Gum, or Bladder Infections

What Are The National Facts About Diabetes?

About 25.8 Million or 8.3% of the population have diabetes. Of that amount 18.8 million people are diagnosed and 7.0 million people are undiagnosed. It is also estimated that 79 million people my be in a pre-diabetes state. It affects all ages of people both men and women. Race and ethnic differences do play a big part in who may get diabetes. Diabetes in 2007 was an underlying cause of death in several hundred thousand deaths. Many complications like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease (neuropathy) and amputation are caused by diabetes. The total cost of diabetes in the United States is over 218 billion dollars per year and growing.