There are two types of diabetes; type one diabetes and type two diabetes. In type one
diabetes beta cells (cells in the pancreas that make and release insulin) are attacked by the
immune system, causing the body to make little to no insulin. In type two diabetes the body uses
too much insulin which results in the glycemia (blood sugar) to not be in a normal range. This is
because the cells in the body take in less glucose. While type one diabetes is not preventable,
type two is preventable. Symptoms of diabetes include polydipsia (excessive thirst), weight loss
or weight gain, loss of feeling in the hands and feet, and slow healing sores. A person who has
diabetes often either has hyperglycemia (too high of blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (too low of
blood sugar). Oftentimes, a person has too high of blood sugar when dealing with diabetes.
There are many risk factors for developing type two diabetes that could make a person
more likely to develop the condition. Some of these risk factors are obesity, low levels of high-
density lipoprotein (removes bad cholesterol from the arteries), high levels of triglycerides (a
type of fat found in the blood), polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition where the ovaries are
enlarged and small cysts form), uneven fat distribution, inactivity, and being over thirty five
years old. It is important to manage risk factors that are in one’s control to help prevent the
development of diabetes.
Diabetes can cause many complications in the body. Many of the complications
associated with type two diabetes are considered either dangerous or life threatening. Some of
these complications include atherosclerosis (the build up of fats and other substances in the
artery walls, causing them to narrow), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes),
dementia (the loss of cognitive function and memory), hypertension (high blood pressure),
cerebrovascular accident (a stroke), diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina caused by
diabetes beta cells (cells in the pancreas that make and release insulin) are attacked by the
immune system, causing the body to make little to no insulin. In type two diabetes the body uses
too much insulin which results in the glycemia (blood sugar) to not be in a normal range. This is
because the cells in the body take in less glucose. While type one diabetes is not preventable,
type two is preventable. Symptoms of diabetes include polydipsia (excessive thirst), weight loss
or weight gain, loss of feeling in the hands and feet, and slow healing sores. A person who has
diabetes often either has hyperglycemia (too high of blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (too low of
blood sugar). Oftentimes, a person has too high of blood sugar when dealing with diabetes.
There are many risk factors for developing type two diabetes that could make a person
more likely to develop the condition. Some of these risk factors are obesity, low levels of high-
density lipoprotein (removes bad cholesterol from the arteries), high levels of triglycerides (a
type of fat found in the blood), polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition where the ovaries are
enlarged and small cysts form), uneven fat distribution, inactivity, and being over thirty five
years old. It is important to manage risk factors that are in one’s control to help prevent the
development of diabetes.
Diabetes can cause many complications in the body. Many of the complications
associated with type two diabetes are considered either dangerous or life threatening. Some of
these complications include atherosclerosis (the build up of fats and other substances in the
artery walls, causing them to narrow), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes),
dementia (the loss of cognitive function and memory), hypertension (high blood pressure),
cerebrovascular accident (a stroke), diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina caused by
