By Laine Conrad

Diabetes is a disease in which insulin is not dealt with properly in the body. Insulin is the hormone that moves glucose from the bloodstream into cells where it can be used as energy.

There are two types of diabetes. Type I, previously known as juvenile onset, occurs when a person produces too little insulin or no insulin at all. This type often develops before the age of 30 and is the less common type of diabetes.

Type II diabetes, previously known as adult onset, is the condition when cells cannot use the insulin that is produced. This type develops most commonly in people over the age of 40 who may be overweight and have a family history of the disease. Type II comprises 85 percent to 90 percent of all diabetes cases.

Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing of cuts and infections, feeling hungry most of the time, and dry/itchy skin. It is important to have regular health checkups that include a glucose screening (fasting blood sugar) because some people may not have obvious symptoms, especially in early stages of Type II.

If diabetes is undetected and untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications. People diagnosed with Type I diabetes will need daily injections of insulin to help manage the disease. Type II diabetes may be managed with diet, exercise and blood testing to regulate weight and glucose levels. If these interventions are not effective, the person may need pills. Some individuals with Type II may require daily injections of insulin in addition to oral medications.

Some risk factors associated with diabetes include obesity, family history of diabetes, age above 40, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or Hispanics. Also, women who have experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing diabetes.

To lower your risk, keeping your weight in the normal range, exercise, eat a balanced diet low in fat, do not smoke, limit alcohol and having regular health checkups.

Laine Conrad is a student at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing and works with Wilshire’s parish nurse, Linda Garner