November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Type 1 diabetes involves the immune system which protects the body against germs. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakes beta cells (beta cells are responsible for creating and releasing hormones like insulin which serve to regulate glucose levels in the blood) for germs. It destroys most or all of the beta cells. So the body doesn’t make insulin. Those at risk for this type of diabetes are usually children and young adults. Those at risk for Type 2 diabetes are adults over 45 years of age. In this type of diabetes the beta cells still make insulin, but they may not make enough insulin. Or other cells may not have enough insulin receptors and insulin’s signal may not get through to the cells. Type 2 diabetes is common among people with a family history of diabetes, people who are overweight, people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, women who have had gestational diabetes and people of African American, Hispanic, Native, and Pacific Islander descent.

Visit: www.diabetes.org to learn how you can Stop Diabetes.