Millions of people worldwide have diabetes, yet there still seems to be lack of knowledge when it comes to the disease, and how to prevent it. Sometimes diabetes is hereditary but in many people it can be prevented. It is important not only to recognize prevention methods, but how to read the symptoms. If left untreated, this disease can become fatal and sometimes even life threatening. A person suffering from diabetes left untreated can run into complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye diseases.

There are three types of diabetes-Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children or adolescents, and is the first stage of diabetes. This stage occurs when the pancreas is not able to produce insulin, which makes sure the body has adequate amounts of energy. Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin or when the body cannot use the insulin that is produced. The last type of diabetes, gestational, occurs in pregnant women only during pregnancy. It only affects less than 4% of pregnancies, but can increase the risk of both mother and child developing diabetes.

Risk factors for diabetes include being relatively inactive, being overweight, eating a poor diet rich in sugars and additives, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and being a member of a high risk group such as Aboriginals, Asian, Hispanic, South Asian, or African. Furthermore, individuals that are over 40 years old are at a much higher risk for developing diabetes, and should be tested by a doctor regularly. Though some factors can obviously not be altered, living a healthy life by choosing to be active and eat right will lower your chances of developing diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, drastic weight change, bruises that take a long time to heal, and numbness and tingling of the hands and feet. See your doctor if you have experienced any of the symptoms listed.