Diabetes is the condition that I have. My doctor calls it a condition instead of a disease, and I like that description better. Nearly 20 million Americans, depending on where the numbers you look at come from, suffer from diabetes. There are also 5.3 million Americans who have diabetes, but don't know it, according to the American Diabetes Association web site. The two major types are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent, while type 2 can sometimes get by with medication and lifestyle changes.

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the most serious type. The pancreas stops working and the person needs to provide the body with insulin with injections. Close monitoring of glucose levels helps maintain control.

Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition. The body still produces insulin, but it is either not enough or that the cells ignore the insulin. Type 2 is increasing because of the lifestyles of Americans.