Diabetes

  1. The path to understanding diabetes starts here.

    No matter where you are in your fight, here is where you need to be.

    Whether you have been newly diagnosed, have been fighting against type 1 or type 2 diabetes for a while, or are helping a loved one, you have come to the right place. This is the start of gaining a deeper understanding of how you can live a healthier life—with all the tools, health tips, and food ideas you need. Wherever you are at with this disease, know that you have options and that you do not have to be held back. You can still live your best life. All you must do is act and stick with it.

    Understanding type 1

    Here is what you need to know about type 1 diabetes. The CDC estimates that over 1.5 million Americans have it, including over 186,000 children and adolescents. Type 1 diabetes occurs at every age, in people of every race, and of every shape and size. There is no shame in having it, and you have a community of people ready to support you. Learning as much as you can about it and working closely with your diabetes care team can give you everything you need to thrive.

    In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates you eat into blood sugar that it uses for energy—and insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, everyone can learn to manage their condition and live long healthy lives.

    Remember: this is a condition that can be managed. By living a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise and proper diet, you can live a normal life and do everything you set out to do. No matter how type 1 diabetes has shown up in your life, you can find success by balancing your medications, and sticking to your daily exercise routine and nutrition plan. But wherever you are at with this challenge, you can always reach out for help of any kind—from your caregivers, your family, or other people who live with type 1 diabetes. 

    Understanding type 2

    Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes—and it means that your body does not use insulin properly. And while some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to help manage it. Regardless, you have options—and tools, resources, and support to help you fight.



    A key part of managing type 2 diabetes is maintaining a balanced and healthy diet. You need to eat something sustainable that helps you feel better and still makes you feel happy and fed, remember, it is a process. Work to find helpful tips and diet plans that best suit your lifestyle—and how you can make your nutritional intake work the hardest for you.

    Fitness is another key to managing type 2. And the good news, all you must do is get moving. The key is to find activities you love and do them as often as you can. No matter how fit you are, a little activity every day can help fight type 2 and put yourself in charge of your life.