3.    There are three types of diabetes.

Three types of diabetes are diagnosed by doctors: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin. This type of diabetes affects only five percent of those with the illness.  

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. This occurs when the body does not use insulin properly. Consequently, the pancreas creates extra insulin. This type of diabetes can often be prevented through healthy lifestyle. And at times, it can be controlled through lifestyle changes-like weight loss.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. And it usually subsides after pregnancy. The CDC says gestational diabetes may affect up to 9.2 percent of pregnant women.

4.    Prediabetes has become an epidemic.

Don’t let the “pre” in prediabetes fool you. While prediabetes might sound harmless, it’s not. Prediabetes is diagnosed when blood sugars are higher than normal, but not high enough to be categorized as full blown diabetes.

Nearly one out of three people have this condition. That’s 86,000,000 Americans. Here’s the scary thing: nine out of 10 people don’t know it.

Left unmanaged, prediabetes can pave the way to full blown diabetes. In fact, 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within five years if recommended lifestyle changes are not made. In addition, prediabetes raises the risk of heart disease, blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.