Nearly 8% of Americans have diabetes, and many more are at risk. Diabetes is a disease where the body does not properly produce or use insulin, resulting in high blood glucose levels. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1, where the body does not produce insulin, and type 2, which affects 90% of diabetics and involves insulin resistance. Treatments depend on the type and severity of diabetes and may include diet, exercise, pills, or insulin shots completely necessary for type 1 diabetes but also used for more severe type 2 cases.

1. DiabetesWhat’s the difference?

2. What’s the importance?Nearly 8% of all Americans are diabeticMany more will become diabeticObesityMisinformation

3. What is diabetes?According to the American Diabetes Association, “a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin.”

4. What is insulin?Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreasIt is used by your body to lower your blood glucoseWhen you don’t have enough, your blood glucose becomes high

5. What types of diabetes are there?Type 1 Type 2

6. Type 2Affects 90% of diabeticsInsulin resistanceObesityGenetics

7. Type 1Formerly known as juvenile diabetesAbout 10% of diabetics are type 1

8. What causes type 1?Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune disorderGeneticsLuck (or lack thereof)Eventually the pancreas produces no more insulin

9. TreatmentsDepend on the type and severityDiet

11. TreatmentsDepend on the type and severityDietExercisePillsInsulin Shots

12. Insulin shotsCompletely necessary for type 1Used for more severe type 23 different waysSyringesPens

13. Insulin Pens

14. Insulin ShotsCompletely necessary for type 1Used for more severe type 23 different waysSyringesPensPumps

15. Sources for further informationDiabetes.orgJDRF.orgTuDiabetes.org