What sank the “Unsinkable Ship” the Titanic was not the tip of the iceberg, but the lurking 90% percent of the iceberg hidden under the surface. In the movie you see the captain steer the ship clear of the block of ice on top of the water, but underneath not known to the captain, crew or passengers, the razor sharp ice was splitting the steel bottom of the vessel like a stick of melted butter. Only after it was too late that the damage was known to all. Only a handful survived!

If you do not do something quickly, Diabetes is going to get you the same way the ice berg sank the unsinkable Titanic. The scary part of Diabetes is you can not see it. It doesn’t neccessarily hang on you out in the open. Yes, you have excess weight on you, but the damage is being done down under. Sure you may realize it, but it may be too late. So instead of a gigantic ice cube slicing through you, you get a free trip to the surgeon’s room only to come out, one limb less than your trip in. Sounds morbid, doesn’t it? But, this is reality. If you do not see the iceberg coming you’re going to slowly drown.

Diabetes is a silent killer. The way things are going; survivors are going to be only the ones looking of a lifeboat now. Do not be fooled. You are not exempt from this happening to you. You are not an unsinkable ship! Your lifeboat only comes in the form of exercise and eating right. You think health care is scary now, wait a few years and see the life boats coming in with the wounded, frozen and emotionally drained. But, there is hope for you; here is what you do;

• Realize you’re not protected from diabetes, take preventive measures.

So you’ve learned that you’ve got diabetes. Well after the initial shock, you’re stuck with dealing with the lifestyle changes that come with your diagnosis. When you go into the situation knowing that this isn’t the end but only the beginning of a new phase in your life it gives you a better perspective on life. Gone are the days of feeling like garbage and not knowing the genesis of the problem. Oftentimes, folks feel a sense of relief when they finally realize what the problem is. The stress of uncertainty lifts and the realization sets in that their life is now on a straight path. Well sort of..

Of course your new lifestyle will demand a few changes. First and foremost your doctor should have put you on a new diet. Depending on whether or not you have Type I or Type 2 diabetes you might even have to take insulin shots, ouch!! Relax, things are going to get only better now that your health is being managed correctly.

Your new diet will consist of many foods with lower carbohydrates, which can of course be a hassle if you are addicted to savories. Sure, there’s a downside, but your quality of life should go up immeasurably. A lower carb diet doesn’t exclude all of the things that you have come to love, just cautiously watching your diet will help. Moderation and constant inventory of what you are eating is essential to helping you maintain a healthy diet. After you’ve had to deal with the disease for awhile you’ll be a whiz at maintaining yourself. Foods that are high in protein such as meats and nuts will be your friends since the carbohydrate levels are very low. This isn’t to say that you should go on a “no carb” diet, management and moderation is the key.

Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes matures quickly and symptoms are very visible.

This type of diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic cells. These cells are the insulin producing cells. This type of diabetes affects mostly children and young adults. Risk factors for type1 diabetes include autoimmune, genetics, and environmental factors.

Many clinical studies have shown that an option for type 1 diabetes treatment is the pancreas transplantation. For some patients, surgeons can restore the function of the pancreas with an islet cell transplant.

The most important benefit of pancreas transplantation is freedom from dependence on insulin. Although this is significant, this is not recommended treatment for diabetes unless there is a need for a kidney transplant as well.

On the other hand, pancreas transplants still remains problematic in that the immune system still can attack new pancreas cells. Some people who have transplants do find that the transplanted pancreas is attacked and the insulin-producing cells are killed off after operation.

At this time, pancreas transplants do not always provide permanent cures, and people who have transplants must take anti-rejection medication and immune-system suppressing drugs

Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. This form of diabetes is mainly found in children. The primary problem in all forms of diabetes, regardless if it is Type I or Type II is that the glucose (sugar) levels of the body are too high.

In a healthy person, the beta cells in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin in response to sugar in the blood. The sugar gets there through the food and drinks we consume. Normally, the insulin helps to move the sugar from the bloodstream and into the cells of the body where it can be used for cellular processes. The insulin triggers gates located in the membranes of the cells to open, allowing the sugar to flow in.

A person with Type I diabetes can not make enough or any insulin. This produces the abnormally high levels of glucose in the bloodstream seen in these patients.

The question begs to be asked, "Why doesn't the body produce insulin?" In Type I diabetes the culprit is the immune system. Something, whether it be genetic or environmental is still not clear, triggers the immune system to malfunction. Instead of viewing the beta cells of the pancreas as "self", the immune system sees the beta cells as foreign invaders. Doing what it's supposed to do, which is attack and destroy invading cells, the immune system in error attacks the beta cells.

Even though other beta cells can be produced by the pancreas, the speed at which the immune system attacks and destroys is too fast for the pancreas to keep up. Over time the amount of insulin produced in response to sugar in the blood is diminished.

The result is high blood sugar. Insulin shots can control the disease, however, there are currently treatments being studied which may actually stop the immune system from attacking itself which would bring about a natural halt to the problem.