What is diabetes?
Diabetes is group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose (GLOO-kos), resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action or both. diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease to lower the risk of complications.

TYPE 1 DIABETES...
...was previously called insulin dependent diabetes or juvenile onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body system destroys pancreatic beta cells, that only cells in the body that made the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. To survive, people with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump. This type of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, but the onset can occur at any age.

TYPE 2 DIABETES...
 ...was previously called non-insulin dependant diabetes or adult on-set diabetes. In adults type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES ...
...is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes requires treatment to normalize maternal blood glucose levels to avoid complications in the infant. Immediately after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually type 2 diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes have a 40% to 60% chance of developing diabetes in the next 5-10 years.

WHAT DOES DIABETES DO TO THE BODY???
Diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as blindness, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease and lower-limb amputations. People with diabetes can lower the occurrence of these and other diabetic complications by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids.
Many people with diabetes control they’re blood sugar levels by:
1) following a healthy meal plan
2) exercising regularly, losing weight, and taking medications. Subsistence activities is a great form of exercise.

What you can do to lower your risk of diabetes?
If you are over weight, check with your doctor first before you start a physical activity program.
*Small goals to start out with like walking 20 minutes a day is a good goal to reach, then gradually increase the time you walk.
* Get involved in sports at the school or increase your activity by playing outside, going for nature walks and walking your pet if you have one.
* Cut your TV, Computer, and video game time by 1 hour a day.
*To lose weight, try eating 200 to 300 less calories every day.
     To do that you can Drink water instead of soda.
     Eat fresh fruit instead of eating a bag of chips.
     Take your time to eat. Wait 15 minutes before having a second helping. It takes that amount of time to let your brain know that you are full. 
     Don’t skip meals. For breakfast have a slice of toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter instead of butter, a boiled egg, or low fat yogurt with fruit.
     Pack a healthy lunch, make a sandwich with turkey or lean beef and add fruit instead of chips, water instead of soda. f you have any questions regarding Diabetes and how to prevent diabetes, go to your local clinic and gather some brochures for more information.

(source: USDA (http://www.usda.gov/)

COOL websites:
To learn how much to eat:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/

The VERB program makes it cool and fun for young people to be active every day.
http://www.verbnow.com/

WIN- Weight-control Information Network
For weight control help:
www.win.diddk.nih.gov/