Information about diabetes

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with diabetes, it can be scary with all the conflicting information on diabetes that is currently available. While the internet can yield some great information, there is also a lot of wrong information that needs to be sifted through. This article will provide accurate, useful information about diabetes for you.

1- When looking for information about diabetes, there are three types to learn about. One of the best places to find the information you need about type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes is from your doctor. However, another good way to find this information is on the internet. When you are looking up information on diabetes online, it is important to be sure that you are getting it from a reputable source. The government has several websites that has the kind of accurate information on diabetes that you need.

2- The two most common types of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is a direct result of the body's failure to properly manufacture the insulin that it needs. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose inside cells to fuel them. While being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes is serious, it is defiantly an illness that can be lived with and controlled. The information on diabetes will reveal that Type 1 diabetes is controlled by insulin injections.

3- While looking for information on diabetes, your search will reveal that Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is often found among the aging population. Type 2 differs from Type 1 in that Type 2 diabetes patients do produce insulin, but for some reason the cells ignore its presence. This results in a build up of glucose in the body, which can lead to blindness, heart disease and kidney damage to name a few of the complications that are associated with Type 2 diabetes.

4- A much less common form of diabetes that people suffer from is gestational diabetes. According to available information on diabetes, this form affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women or 135,000 each year. Gestational diabetes becomes an issue in the later stages of pregnancy and can cause issues with delivery as well as predispose the baby to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes later in life.

5- While looking for information on diabetes it is important to find information on the complications that accompany the disease as well. While diabetes is a treatable illness, it does have some complications that should not be ignored. If you notice any of these issues, it is important to see your doctor immediately. Some of the issues associated with diabetes include an increase in periodontal disease, sexual dysfunction among men and women, an increase in blood pressure and nerve damage. This is a small list of the complications that are common with diabetes; your physician will be able to provide a more complete list.