Diabetes Overview

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone necessary to convert sugar, starches and other food into the energy we need for daily life.

There are two major types of diabetes:

Type I. Also called juvenile diabetes, type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all cases of diabetes. In type I diabetics, the body does not produce any insulin; people with this form of diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. This type is initially diagnosed most often in children and young adults.
Type II. Also called adult-onset diabetes, type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to properly use or ultimately make enough insulin. It is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes. Type II diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions, a result of a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles (two reasons more children are being diagnosed with type II diabetes) and an increasing number of older Americans in the population.
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