What is a Diabetic Diva?
(1) A woman with diabetes (see below) who is doing, or sees the need and wants to do, everything she can to control her disease through sensible means, such as proper diet, regular excercise, appropriate treatment, and a positive outlook on life, or (2) a woman who is endeavoring to help control diabetes in someone she cares for. In endeavoring to reach this goal, she becomes a "successful female personality"—a Diva!—in dealing with diabetes in her life. She is truly a Diabetic Diva in every sense of the term! More....


What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a serious disease of the endocrine system that causes blood sugar levels (BGL) to rise to dangerous and, if left unchecked, fatal levels by:

(1) destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, rendering it unable to manufacture insulin, the hormone that instructs each cell to "let in" glucose from the blood stream to promote normal cell function. Known as Type 1 or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (formerly "juvenile diabetes"), it is an autoimmune disease often found in younger people and treated with insulin injections; or by

(2) preventing the cells from using the relatively insufficient amount of insulin produced to "let in" the sugar from the blood stream, resulting from insulin resistance. Known as Type 2 or Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (formerly "adult-onset diabetes"), it is often found in older sedentary, overweight people but, alarmingly, it is now also being found increasingly in sedentary, overweight youngsters. It is usually treated with dietary improvement, weight loss, exercise, and prescription medications.

In either case, untreated diabetes causes glucose (sugar) to build up in the blood stream, resulting in immediate symptoms, such as starving cells resulting in fatigue and irritability, and long-term complications, some life-threatening. (Symptoms to Watch For) But treatment is available for both types of diabetes. The type of treatment depends on the cause or type of diabetes. Appropriate medical treatment, diabetes education, a health-promoting lifestyle, and special attention to vulnerable areas (feet, eyes, etc.) are indicated for all cases of diabetes. We recommend that you read more about the disease at www.diabetes.org and discuss the information with your doctor. More....