I never quite understood why Uncle Walt had to give himself shots and be so careful about what and when he ate or why he sometimes became shaky and had to drink orange juice. Early one morning when I was 10, my dad woke us to tell us Uncle Walt had died of complications of diabetes and asthma. Insulin is a hormone that tells the body s cells to take in blood sugar, or glucose. Without insulin, glucose can build up in the bloodstream and spill into the urine. Increased urination usually results because the sugar carries water with it into the urine.
Extreme thirst results from frequent urination.
There are three main types of diabetes. Type I diabetes commonly occurs in children or young adults and usually requires insulin and a special diet. While Type II diabetes is more common among adults, recently more children, particularly overweight children, are showing signs. Gestational diabetes sometimes occurs during pregnancy and may go away after childbirth. Without careful management, diabetes can lead to several complications.