DIABETES

Diabetes is a condition in which the body is resistant to or does not produce the hormone insulin, which converts sugar and starch into the energy your body needs.  While diabetes has been linked to obesity and physical inactivity, its cause remains unknown. 
Today, there are more than 23 million men, women and children in the U.S. who suffer from diabetes.  Most of these people have been diagnosed and are treating their condition but nearly one forth are not even aware they suffer from the disease.
There are four major varieties of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes – A failure to produce insulin
• Type II diabetes – A resistance to insulin combined with lower levels of insulin
• Gestational diabetes – Usually a variety of Type II diabetes associated with the end of pregnancy
• Pre-diabetes – A condition marked by elevated blood sugar levels that may indicate an increased risk of diabetes

Your doctor can conduct one of several tests for diabetes by checking your blood glucose levels under different circumstances.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Type I diabetes risk factors – MyDiabetesCentral.com
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/type-I-diabetes-000009_3-145.html

Type II diabetes risk factors – WebMD
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/risk-diabetes

Diabetes overview – American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

Diabetes warning signs – The International Diabetes Federation
http://www.idf.org/what-are-warning-signs-diabetes

Find a Diabetes Program in Your State– The National Institutes of Health http://www.cdc.gov/Diabetes/states/

The Diabetes Dilemma – Ohio University Research
http://news.research.ohiou.edu/perspectives/index.php?item=292

AMVETS Support for Diabetes Research
http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/News/Archives/edisonbiotech
/amvets/030806/