The major characteristic of diabetes is the body's inability to regulate the level of sugar or glucose in the blood. There are two basic types of diabetes.

Type 1: is also known as juvenile diabetes. It affects only 15% of diabetics. They usually develop it as children or young adults. These people have an almost total lack of the hormone insulin, which is necessary to maintain normal sugar levels in the blood. The usually need daily injections of insulin to prevent a dangerous condition called ketosis in which glucose and acids in the body reach harmful levels.

Type 2: is also known as adult-onset diabetes. People usually develop this after the age of 40 and they are usually over weight. They continue to make insulin but not enough to keep their blood sugar levels normal all the time. These diabetics are not at risk of developing long time complications as they...