Knowing someone you love, like a family member or a close friend, has diabetes can be pretty concerning. It is, after all, a disease that affects the way our bodies handle the food it ingests. But it is a controllable condition with proper care. In fact, most people who have diabetes can live like how they did before they developed this disease as long as they observe proper care. How does diabetes develop? This question remains unanswered. Here are some diabetes facts you should make yourself aware about:

• The two main types of diabetes are insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent.
• In insulin dependent diabetes the pancreas fails to manufacture insulin or makes only a small amount.
• Insulin is needed for life, so the hormone must be injected every day.
• In non-insulin dependent diabetes the pancreas still produces insulin but it is not used to its fullest extent. Around 14 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes, most of who have non-insulin dependent diabetes.