Diabetes happens when your body can't process the levels of glucose your blood needs. Your body turns sugars and carbohydrates into glucose for energy. People with Type I diabetes can't process the glucose at all because their body doesn't produce enough of the insulin to deal with it. Type II diabetes happens when your body still produces insulin, but it can't process all the glucose.

When your blood sugar counts become too high because your body is incapable of handling it, and continue to stay high then you likely have Type II Diabetes. It can only be diagnosed by a doctor, and there are certain criteria that must be met. That includes more than one fasting blood test with high glucose readings, as well as high A1C numbers. Type I diabetes is generally diagnosed in childhood. Type II diabetes is generally diagnosed later in life, in middle age. However, these days we are noticing that it is being diagnosed earlier and earlier.

Part of any regime for diabetes is to regularly check your blood for its sugar level. That's because having diabetes puts you at higher risk for other conditions, so monitoring your blood sugar and keeping it in check are crucial to the wellbeing of a diabetic. People who have diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and stroke. Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It can cause permanent brain damage. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for diabetics, and it can also be one of the biggest symptoms of diabetes. That obesity helps to increase the risk factors for diabetics. Controlling blood glucose levels and obesity go a long way to decreasing the risk of complications.

While Type I diabetics will need Insulin, in some form, for their entire lives, Type II diabetics have other choices. Some will need to have some medications, but there are many other who completely control their illness by diet and exercise. A diagnosis of diabetes does not have to be a death sentence. It is a manageable, if not even reversible disease, with the proper care, guidance and medical supervision. If you think you or a loved one may have diabetes, either type I or type II diabetes, it is important to see a doctor for the proper testing as soon as possible, if for no other reason, but just to know exactly what you are dealing with.

For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit http://www.ihealthtampa.com/tampadiabetes/. Dr. Jonathan Berns, D.C. offers effective solutions to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Visit Integrated Health of Tampa to learn more about how you can begin to manage your diabetes, as we are dedicated towards providing effective diabetes solutions to our patients.

By Jonathan Berns, D.C.