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by: JuliaHanf
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20.8 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States. There are three kinds of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. Of the three, Type I affects 175.600 people, that's .22%, according to the American Diabetes Association. What exactly causes the disease is still unclear. We do know that there are certain factors that can influence whether a person develops the disease. Those include genetics and the lifestyle choices. Experts know that diabetes has existed since the 19th century, that the pancreas is directly responsible for the production of insulin and that somehow, insulin unlocks the body's cells to convert glucose into usable energy.

Other than that, the disease is greatly individualized. How a person cares for themselves prior to the onset, as well as management of the disease determines what quality of life he or she will experience.

Diabetes has warning signs that are often overlooked. They include the following: Frequent urination (in large quantities) Excessive thirst

When the sugar level in your blood is too high, you have diabetes. In Type I diabetes, the level of sugar is not only high, it is out of control. The reason being the body has stopped production of the required quantity of insulin. As a result, type I diabetes patient needs two to five insulin shots per day, to keep the blood sugar levels under control.

Insulin is categorized by its onset, peak and duration. There are four categories of insulin: rapid acting, regular or short-acting, intermediate and long acting. The onset refers to how soon the insulin reaches the bloodstream. Peak is the point at which the insulin is most effective in reducing blood sugar levels and duration explains how long it will continue to work. There are more than 20 different kinds of insulin. They are either manufactured in a lab or derived from animals.

The causes of Type I Diabetes can be listed as: 1) Your body just stops making insulin. 2) The pancreas gets damaged. 3) The cells that make insulin are destroyed.

Ulralente (Humulin) and Glargine (Lantus) are two long acting synthetic human insulin medications that are commonly prescribed for diabetics. Ultralente enters the blood at a slow rate, remaining active for 28 hours. Glargine, injected daily, begins to work to regulate blood sugar levels in just over an hour and lasts up to 24hours. Both are used to treat Type I diabetes.

But, what were those warnings? You suddenly lost weight and then you thought that you were evolving into a fit personality. You used bathroom a lot, your hunger almost seized you and you were happy about it. When you became very thirsty, you thought that drinking lots of water is good for health. A nature cure fad had advised you about it. You had blurred vision, you got your eyes tested and you bought a glass and sunglass too. You felt tired but you thought that all hard and sincere workers get tired-not once a thought streaked into your mind, that you must have a check up! And you now have a life-long companion, Diabetes Type I.

Prevention is the best line of defense against developing diabetes.

So, what is to be done? Nothing precisely can cure this problem. But something that can not be cured must be endured. If you take proper diet, and exercise regularly, you can still live happily, even in the company of diabetes.

There is no cure for diabetes. But if you work with your health care team, eat right and exercise, you can live a great life and stay healthy.