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1) There are at least three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
2) Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, accounts for about 5 to 10
percent of diabetics and is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no
insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells and produce energy.
3) Type 2 diabetes, previously known as adult onset diabetes, accounts for about 90 to
95 percent of diabetics and occurs when the body either becomes resistant to insulin or
doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain glucose levels.
4) Pregnant women may develop gestational diabetes, which can be harmful to both
mother and child. Gestational diabetes tends to clear up greatly or improve after birth.
5) The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated type 2 diabetes as an
emerging global epidemic that can be traced to rapid increases in weight, obesity, and
physical inactivity.
6) A Harvard study showed that eating one serving of oatmeal five or six times a week
was linked to a 39 percent reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes.
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