1. ✴Diabetes is an “autoimmune” disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.
   

2. ✴ The two most common kinds of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.
   

3. ✴ Type 1 used to be called juvenile diabetes because it occurred most often in children and adolescents. The name was changed when it became clear that it can occur at any age.
   

4. ✴In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, too much glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood, causing serious health problems. Complications can include heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and death.
   

5. ✴5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
   

6. ✴Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, but recently it has become increasingly common in children and young adults. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2.
   

7. ✴Generally, people with type 2 diabetes make insulin but cannot use it properly.
   

8. ✴Being overweight and not getting enough exercise can increase the likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes.
   

9. ✴Children and young adults are becoming more at risk for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
   

10. ✴Ask your healthcare provider if your child is in a high risk group for diabetes and would benefit from further testing.
    

Compiled by the Community Education & Outreach Team of the Jordan Bennett Weiss Fund

American Diabetes Association (ADA) – National Diabetes Fact Sheet

www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/national-diabetes-fact-sheet.jsp

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) - (www.jdrf.org)