Diabetes anyone???

Tezzer

You will find the information on Wiki, but just to clarify: there are two main types of diabetes, which are actually different conditions but sharing many symptoms. In type one, essentially the pancreas stops working so the hormone, insulin, it produces to process ingested carbohydrates has to be injected. In type two diabetes, the body typically does still produce insulin, but can't use it effectively. This may be helped by diet and exercise, medication to stimulate more insulin production or medication to reduce the body's resistance to the insulin. Sometimes more insulin is injected.

For any diabetic on medication, the creation of too much insulin in the system causes blood sugars to fall too far (hypoglycaemia or hypo). This can lead to unconsciousness and coma. It need to be brought up again by taking carbohydrate, normally in the quickest-acting form, glucose.

It's hard to make generalisations about treatment because diabetics tend to have very individual responses. Li, for diabetes problems I'd really recommend the very excellent forum at diabetes insight (http://www.support.diabetes-insight.info/forum/) where you'll find lots of knowledgeable diabetics who will offer help and support in specific cases.

Terry (T1 diabetic)