The spread of diabetes has caused consternation in many governments and health organizations. It is thought to be one of the fastest growing diseases in the world at present. But what is diabetes ? This article will answer that question and list the different types of diabetes and common ways to treat the disease.

People with diabetes are characterized by having a high level of sugar in their blood with no way to reduce this level. Sugar gets into the bloodstream from the food we eat. It is used to provide energy to the body's cells. Without this energy the cells starve.

Having a diet high in sugar and sugary food is often thought to cause diabetes. This is not completely true. Eating sugary foods in themselves will not cause diabetes but will increase the number of calories that a person consumes each day. Without the adequate exercise this would result in weight gain.

If this continued for too long the person could become obese or be long term over weight. And there seems to be a definite link between type 2 diabetes and weight. A person that is over weight is at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than a person who is a normal weight for their size and sex.

Another common belief is that many people have diabetes without even knowing. This is true as quite often there are no unique symptoms of diabetes or simply no symptoms at all. For instance, a common symptom is tiredness. This could be attributed to stress, working too hard or a number of other things.

Some of the common symptoms are :

Always being thirsty (polydipsia).

Increased urination (polyuria).

Having a unusually large appetite without any weight gain (weight loss is more likely).

Extreme tiredness.

Nausea and a general feeling of being ill.

Yeast infections.

Problems with vision.

Male impotence.

If you have any of these symptoms then you should see your doctor.

Your body may have stopped producing the hormone insulin, that is secreted to reduce the sugar content in the blood. This is known as insulin dependent diabetes or type 1 diabetes.

Alternatively, you continue to produce insulin but the body resists the affects of the insulin. This is known as adult onset diabetes or type 2 diabetes. This can also happen when a woman is pregnant. She will have type 2 diabetes during the pregnancy and it will stop after the birth. This is called gestational diabetes.

There is still no cure for diabetes and it lasts for life. The best approach is ongoing treatment and regular monitoring of the disease. Treatment is relatively easy after a little adjustment of current lifestyles.

Treatment revolves around getting a well balanced diet and plenty of exercise. In the case of type 1 diabetes it also involves injecting insulin. For type 2 diabetics and gestational diabetes, medication may be necessary but not always. Monitoring the condition of the disease and regular check ups with your health care provider are also necessary. By adhering to the treatment plan set out for you, you can limit the impact that diabetes has on your life on a day to day basis and in the future.