IT'S A DISEASE THAT IMPACTS MORE THAN 30 MILLION PEOPLE... AND OFFICIALS SAY 1 IN 4 AMERICANS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE IT.*DIABETES.*IT'S CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH LEVELS OF BLOOD SUGAR RESULTING FROM DEFECTS IN INSULIN PRODUCTION.ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C - IT'S THE 7TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U-S.DIABETES, TYPES 1 AND 2 ARE THE MOST COMMON FORMS.9 OUT OF 10 DIABETES PATIENTS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 OR "ADULT-ONSET DIABETES."THAT'S WHERE YOUR BODY DOESN'T PRODUCE ENOUGH INSULIN OR USE IT CORRECTLY - AND IS UNABLE TO KEEP BLOOD SUGAR AT NORMAL LEVELS.WITH TYPE 1 -- HISTORICALLY CALLED JUVENILE DIABETES - YOUR BODY MAKES LITTLE TO NO INSULIN.AND WHILE THERE ISN'T A CURE YET- YOU CAN LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE BY MANAGING YOUR LIFESTYLE.A PERSON CAN LOWER THE CHANCES OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES BY LOSING WEIGHT.MAINTAIN REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET.KEEP AN EYE ON POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS- SUCH AS FREQUENT URINATION, EXCESSIVE THIRST AND SLOW HEALING WOUNDS.PEOPLE WITH DIABETES ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR SERIOUS HEALTH COMPLICATIONS - LIKE HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN YOUR REGULAR CHECKUPS.FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MARY MOLONEY.