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Diabetes afflicts more than 15% of the American population today. Many of these people have not seen a doctor for medical treatment. While we've all seen diabetes testing supplies on pharmacy shelves and advertisements, many of us are still unsure of what they are. Nor do we know the symptoms of diabetes.

The cause of diabetes is a result of the body not producing enough insulin, which prevents glucose from entering the bloodstream, denying cells needed sugars. Since the body uses sugar as fuel, any interruption in the functioning of this process is a significant health issue. Without the smooth transfer of sugar into the bloodstream, the body almost starves itself, or in some cases tricks itself into storing too much.

Gestational diabetes occurs in every one of twenty pregnancies. Pregnant women suffer from increased urination and fatigue. Additionally, one person out of ten demonstrates pre-diabetes symptoms, with the possibility that these could develop into another form of the disease. The most common forms, however, are types 1 and 2 diabetes, and these are in the greatest need of being addressed.

There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes. It is related to the immune system, and those who have Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day. Symptoms of diabetes of this type can include being very tired, thirsty, hungry, loss of weight, and some loss of vision. Normally, our body automatically destroys all foreign substances, but Type 1 confuses this process, and not enough insulin can be produced.

Eighty percent of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 is often developed by people as they grow older. It is also common among people who are overweight or have other diabetic members of their families. The pancreas functions properly in Type 2, but the body cannot process the insulin that it produces. (This is unlike Type 1, in which the pancreas doesn't function.) The failure to process insulin may be the real cause of weight gain from Type 2 diabetes, but the other symptoms of diabetes are the same for both types. These include impaired vision, unusual thirst and hunger, and slow recovery from injuries.

It is crucial that people suffering from any of these symptoms of diabetes seek medical attention. While the prospect of having to use and buy diabetes testing supplies is not a happy one, ignoring these signs can result in sickness, coma, or even death. Any primary care physician will be able to analyze these symptoms and recommend a course of action.

In American today, there are a staggering twenty million plus people that suffer from some form of diabetes and almost a third of those have not been diagnosed or sought treatment. While most of us have at least commercials for diabetes testing supplies on the television, many people are not sure what it is or the symptoms of diabetes. Eight out of ten cases of diabetes are diagnosed as Type 2. Many people that are Type 2 diabetic usually develop the condition as they get older, gain too much weight, or simply have a genetic predisposition to diabetes.