Type I and Type2 Diabetes are actually quite different illnesses. Type I Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and very young adults. It used to be called Juvenile Diabetes as it was diagnosed in children at early ages. However today the age factor has been has been seen to alter. I am a Type 1 diabetic and got it when I was three.

Type I diabetics have a pancreas which has ceased to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone which is needed to take sugar from the blood into the cells. It is thought to be caused by a virus attacking the autoimmune system.

Type 2 diabetes has been associated with people of middle-age and beyond. It is generally diagnosed later in life.  Obesity and lack of exercise have been named as the main culprits of the illness. Here again the age factor is blurred, as more and more youngsters get Type 2 diabetes from an early age, probably because of poor diet and lack of exercise.

Millions of people around the world are being diagnosed with diabetes. Research shows  that there is a clear link to obesity and the development of the Type 2 disease.  People with Type 2 diabetes do not process enough insulin to break down the glucose in their system and cause their kidneys to work overtime in getting rid of the waste.  While some people with Type2 diabetes are prescribed insulin, most are started on oral medication.

Type 1 diabetes is a rarer breed covering only about 10% of all those diagnosed. Daily insulin injections have to become a way of life. As yet no cure has been found for either illness, although patients with the early stage of Type 2 diabetes, can almost reverse the condition through good diet and exercise.

The symptoms of Type I and Type 2 Diabetes are very similar: frequent trips to the loo, a raging thirst, extreme tiredness and blurred vision are the most common symptoms.

A person with Type I Diabetes will expect to be on insulin for the rest of his or her life. This does not mean that they cannot lead a long, productive life. In fact, people who are diagnosed younger in life become accustomed to the treatment and become disciplined in managing the illness. Those who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life and have gotten into bad eating habits, tend to ignore many treatment options offered by their G.P.

Years ago, a child who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes had to inject himself every day with insulin to remain alive. At that time syringes had to be boiled to sterilize them.  Some people alive today have been injecting insulin for 70 years.

Today, however, insulin pumps are available that make daily injections for some patients a thing of the past. But the insulin pump is not available worldwide, and doesn’t suit everyone. Pen type syringes are used by many diabetics today, including myself. They are super easy to use.

Diet and exercise are very important to diabetes sufferers, whether Type I or Type 2. Ideally you need to avoid foods that are very high in sugar, fats and starch. ( I follow the Glycemic Index system.)  Diabetics need  to take some exercise every day to keep blood sugar levels in control.

The University of Toronto developed the Glycaemic Index in 1981. The research rated those foods which diabetics should avoid on a scale system.  Some foods were very high on the scale and took a longer time for the body to process, causing more strain on the kidneys and adverse affects on insulin.  Other foods were low on the scale and digested at a slower pace.

For years, it was thought that sweets were the cause of diabetes and these were the only foods to avoid.  With the advent of the Glycaemic Index as well as other medical studies, it became apparent that sweets were not the only foods to avoid.  As a matter of fact, a baked potato, often seen as a nutritional substance, is actually more harmful than a bag of sweets…

Type 2 diabetics may find that by taking regular exercise, eating the right foods and monitoring their blood glucose levels, they can avoid the use of insulin.  In many cases, patients are very successful at maintaining good blood sugar levels by modifying their diet, exercising and losing weight.  Those who are not successful usually end up taking insulin.

With both Type I and Type 2 diabetes, there can be complications. These complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and skin disorders can be avoided if patients follow the advice of their diabetic consultant.

Many of these complications can be avoided. By learning all you can about the disease it is possible to manage the illness successfully.  Diabetes need not be all gloom and doom.  With proper maintenance, those with Type I and Type 2 diabetes can live long and happy lives.

Insulin is the most anabolic steroid you can take. On the other hand its also one of the most dangerous for two reasons – availability and ignorance. I will be the first to tell you that every time I have been hypoglycemic (when blood sugar drops to dangerous levels) its has been as a result of something I did wrong. Used responsibility and with respect for the potential sides it is quite safe and extremely effective. That being said we’ll start off with what you are going to need.

Insulin pumps are a safe, effective way to deliver intensive insulin therapy. The device involves a small catheter, which is inserted under the skin, and a pump, which is about the size of a pager, that is worn outside the body. The pump has a reservoir and can be programmed to deliver small amounts of insulin on a schedule that you determine. To deliver extra doses of insulin (at mealtime, for example), you simply press a button on the device.

Insulin is a hormone that controls the level of blood sugar (also called glucose) in your body. People with diabetes may not have enough insulin or may not be able to use it properly. The sugar then builds up in the blood and overflows into the urine, passing out of your body unused. This deprives you of an important source of energy.

The goal of taking insulin is to keep your blood sugar level in a normal range as much as possible so you’ll stay healthy. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems such as blindness and kidney failure.

Insulin is injected into fat just under the skin using a small needle. There are several places in the body where it can be injected. Insulin works fastest when injected near the stomach, medium speed when injected into the arm, and slowest when injected into the thigh or buttocks. Your doctor will discuss these methods with you.

Oral hypoglycemic agents are often used by type II diabetics who can’t control the disease by means of diet or exercise. These medications are taken by mouth and are usually given once daily. They may lower blood glucose levels for as long as four to five days after the last dose is taken. Other agents last for only 24 hours. The newer drugs have fewer side effects and are more potent. But they are also more likely to cause hypoglycemia and should be used cautiously.

The insulin pen looks like an ink pen with a cartridge. On one end is a small needle; on the other is a plunger that you press to deliver the insulin under the skin. A dial on the cartridge allows you to select your desired dosage of insulin. Although it can cost more than a regular needle and syringe, the pen injector is a convenient and accurate device for using insulin. It can be a good choice for people who do not feel comfortable using a needle and syringe in public or at school or work.

Just because you have diabetes does not mean you cannot go on holiday. All you have to do is to make sure you prepare well.

Key tips:

1) Always have some type of diabetes ID on you so that people know that you are diabetic. An identification bracelet or an ID card would be ideal.

2) Make sure you have a written certificate from your doctor in the language (if possible) of the country you are visiting stating that your medication or insulin is for the treatment of your diabetes. The last thing you want in a foreign country is any misunderstanding regarding medication and needles.

3) Take a recent copy of your prescription with you. No one wants to lose their medication but these things can happen. Having the name of the medicines you are on can at least help you find replacements.

4) Take more medication and test strips than you would normally use just in case some are damaged or lost and take as much as twice the insulin you actually need for your trip.

5) If you use a insulin pen, take a U100 insulin injection with you for emergencies.

6) Take your blood glucose meter with you and make sure you have sufficient test strips supplies. You may well need to monitor more often.

7) Make sure you know where you can go for medical help in the place you are visiting preferably beforehand but if not on your arrival.

Check with your insurance company that your diabetes is covered.

9) Make sure that your medication or insulin do not become too hot or cold. There are special cool bags that can keep insulin cool during travel. Also, it is best to keep insulin in your hand luggage as it is likely to freeze in the hold of the plane.

10) Always carry a snack or hypo treatments in case of hypoglycaemia or if a meal is delayed or contains too little carbohydrates.