American Diabetes Association recognizes November as American Diabetes Month. The most recent statistics indicate that 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes and another 57 million Americans have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes normally occurs before the onset of Type 2 diabetes when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

The two most common types of diabetes Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is generally diagnosed in children and was previously known as "juvenile diabetes." In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin - a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Type 2 diabetes occurs when either the body does not produce enough insulin or when the body ignores the insulin. Type 2 diabetes was known as "adult onset" diabetes, but with so many young people developing Type 2 diabetes in the past decade that is no longer the case. It is estimated that nearly

1 in 600 children and adolescents has Type 1 diabetes while 1 in 6 overweight adolescents has pre-diabetes.

Over time, high blood-sugar levels from diabetes damage the body and place you at risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputations. Recent research shows that damage to the heart and circulatory system is already occurring in people with pre-diabetes.

In most cases, diabetes can be prevented and controlled through healthy lifestyle choices. Diabetes experts recommend eating well-balanced meals, maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in some kind of physical activity each day. Sedentary lifestyle is known to be a contributing factor to diabetes. Speak with your health care provider if you have questions about diabetes, the risk factors or what you can be doing to stay healthy. Diabetes doesn't have to take its toll on your life.

Judy Taggart is the director of Community Health for the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization. She can be reached at 737-5787 or taggartj@lvcho.org.