According to Encyclop?dia Britannica, "There are two varieties of the disease. Type I is insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or IDDM, for which insulin injection is required; it was formerly referred to as juvenile onset diabetes. In this type, insulin is not secreted by the pancreas and hence must be taken by injection. Type II, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM--which used to be called adult onset diabetes--may be controlled by dietary restriction.

The difference between diabetes type 1 and type 2 is that Type 1 arises due to a total lack of insulin being created by the body. Type 2 is where the body becomes insulin resistant, although insulin is still being produced. Type 1 tends to occur in children to adults under the age of 40. Type 2 occurs most often in adults over the age of forty, but is becoming more prevalent due to obesity.

Type 1 diabetes, previously called juvenile diabetes, affects only 5-10 percent of the diabetic population. It can be a result of an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People can develop Type 1 diabetes as either a child or adult and it must be treated with insulin. Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult onset diabetes, affects 90-95 percent of the diabetic population.

It is important to control type 2 diabetes because the buildup of sugar in the blood, if not controlled, can lead to serious medical problems such as kidney damage, amputation, heart disease, and blindness.

To help control type 2 diabetes, prescription medications such as ACTOplus met should be used in conjunction with nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and physical activity.

Reach and maintain a reasonable weight. Even if you stay above your ideal weight, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight is enough to make a big difference. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 14 pounds can greatly reduce your chance of getting diabetes. Follow a healthy eating plan. Eat more grains, fruits, and vegetables. Cut down on fat and calories. A dietitian can help you design a meal plan. Remind your health care team to check your blood glucose levels regularly.

Your body does not respond as it should to insulin, making it hard for your cells to get glucose from the blood for energy. This is called insulin resistance. Your weight, how much physical activity you get, and your family history all affect the way your body responds to insulin. If you are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have family members with diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes can be simply defined or diagnosed by a blood sugar test. The American Diabetes Association's criteria for diabetes are as follows. Another useful test is called hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C); this is the "footprints" to diabetes, which averages blood sugar levels over a 90-day period.

If your doctor thinks that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and order a blood glucose test. A blood glucose test is a blood test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. The test is usually done first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything.

If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have a condition called prediabetes-when your blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes-you may be able to prevent or delay the disease by exercising regularly and changing the way you eat. Often, people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight and not physically active. By losing as few as 10 or 20 pounds, you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes.2

Dr. Budwig says that diabetes starts because of a lack of highly unsaturated fatty acids and that the body's inability to process sugar is a condition that follows. For example in her book "Flax Oil as a True Aid for Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer & Other Diseases" page 12, she says: "The basic problem with diabetics is really an impairment of the fats metabolism system, and not that of the conversion of sugar. The sugar assimilation problem is only secondary.

When you have Insulin Resistance, your body is trying to produce too much insulin because the hormone is not getting the response it should from your cells. This can go on for many years before type II diabetes sets in. Diabetes occurs when your body's ability to produce insulin begins to fail. Another difference is that Insulin Resistance does not require daily medication to control the disease.

If you do nothing about it, there is a real danger that Insulin Resistance will lead to type II diabetes. However, the right combination of nutrients, diet and moderate exercise can reverse Insulin Resistance and prevent the onset of diabetes. This is the scientific basis of the Insulite System.

Family history of type 1 diabetes. Having a family history of the disease increases the chance that a person will have islet cell antibodies, but it does not predict that a person will have the disease. Only about 10% to 15% of people with type 1 diabetes have a family history of the disease.2 Race. White people have a greater risk for developing type 1 diabetes than black, Asian, or Hispanic people. Presence of islet cell antibodies in the blood.

Obesity and inactivity often lead to type 2 Diabetes. Also, a family history and/or a history of diabetes while pregnant are strong predictors of acquiring type 2 Diabetes later in life. Blood sugar levels that remain elevated and poorly controlled can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, loss of limbs because of poor circulation, and early death.