It’s hard to say for certain how many Americans have diabetes, since it’s been estimated that as many as 6.3 million people are undiagnosed. You might be a diabetic if you are excessively thirsty and hungry all the time, urinate frequently (as often as every hour), encounter unusual weight gain or weight loss, feel exhausted for no real reason, commonly suffer nausea, have blurred vision, develop vaginal or yeast infections, have dry mouth, take a long time to heal sores or cuts and suffer itchy skin. Diabetes is not contagious, but people who are older, overweight and sedentary are more likely to develop this disease.

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system turns against itself, attacking insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Scientists believe viral and genetic factors are at play here, with most people receiving a diagnosis when they are younger. This type of diabetes occurs evenly in males and females, but is more common in Caucasian sectors of the population, particularly in northern European countries like Sweden and Finland.

The onset is sudden for a type 1 diabetic, who has blurry vision, feels constantly hungry, thirsty and fatigued, and loses weight rapidly. If they do not receive insulin everyday, they can lapse into a coma. You may need immediate medical attention if you’re always thirsty, you urinate frequently, if your breathing becomes more rapid, if your abdomen hurts or if your breath smells like nail polish remover.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diabetics and is most commonly found in older Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans, as well as Native Alaskans and Pacific Islander Americans. The onset for a type 2 diabetic is more gradual, but 80% of those who have it are overweight and physically inactive.

Symptoms include slow healing wounds, frequent infections, unusual thirst, frequent urination, nausea and fatigue. Just like type 1 diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood, which prevents the body from using it as fuel. Yet, unlike type 1, the body is usually producing enough insulin, although for unknown reasons, the body lacks the ability to make use of it.

Learning that you are a diabetic can feel overwhelming at first, but you can control your symptoms through lifestyle changes and careful monitoring. Diabetes care includes dieting and exercise. Diets should be diverse, high in fiber and low in fat and salt. Each day, you’ll need to monitor your cholesterol, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, triglycerides and weight.

You’ll need to talk to your healthcare practitioner about a plan for physical activity and meals, as well as medications and self-monitoring. Often your body will be less resilient, so you’ll need annual flu shots, eye exams, foot exams, kidney function tests and dental exams to stay healthy.

Wrapping one’s mind around diet nutrition can sometimes be confusing. For instance, a 120-pound fifteen-year-old girl will not need as many calories as a 220-pound twenty-five-year-old man. To further confuse matters, that 120-pound fifteen-year-old girl’s 150-pound peer of the same age will need more calories. A fifteen-year-old girl with juvenile diabetes will have an entirely different set of nutritional needs as well. Online, there are many resources and tools to help the average American figure out what his or her dietary needs are, depending on height, weight and level of physical activity.

The “2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” are the most current recommendations for diet nutrition, at least until the 2010 edition comes out. According to the guidelines, a “healthy diet” is one that is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, including lean protein like poultry and fish, beans, eggs and nuts, and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and sugar.

Consumers are encouraged to make smart choices and eat a wide variety of foods, while staying within the caloric needs for their height and weight. Each day, Americans should be consuming calories, amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. While requirements change for people depending upon their size and level of physical activity, the average person consumes around 50 grams of fat and 2,000 calories per day to remain at a stable weight.

For someone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the normal dietary rules may not apply. Generally, most diabetics will need to reduce the amount of fat consumed (particularly saturated fat), quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption to no more than 3 or 4 per day. Diets should be rich in mono-unsaturated fats (like olive oil), oily fish, starchy whole grain carbohydrates (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, cereal), and fresh fruits and vegetables.

A diabetic will need to check his or her blood sugar level before eating to see that it’s 70 to 130 and then again a few hours after eating to make sure it’s below 180. People with low blood sugar will need to have certain snacks handy, like fruit juice, hard candy, sugar or honey, soft drinks and milk. Small or medium sized women should eat 1,200 to 1,600 calories per day (6 starch, 3 vegetables, 2 fruits, 2 milks, 4-6 ounces protein and up to 3 fats). Larger women or small to medium sized men should have 1,600 to 2,000 calories (8 starch, 4 vegetables, 3 fruits, 2 milks, 4-6 ounces protein and up to 4 fats). For more information, check out the Diabetes Food Pyramid at Nih.

Americans seeking counseling on their dietary habits, whether they wish to gain or lose weight, can find assistance online. Websites like Shapeup or Eatright focus on consumer education centered on diet and weight loss. The National Institute of Health offers information on the 2005 guidelines and Food Pyramid at Nutrition website. Several nation-wide programs can help dieters find greater online support and practical resources at Fitday, Weightwatchers, Sparkpeople, Ediets, Mywebmd Nutrition, Nutricise, Changeone, Cyberdiet or Caloriescount.

According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association) website, there are approximately 23.6 million people in America, or 7.8% of the population, who suffer from diabetes. And more than 5 million people in America are unaware they have diabetes.

One of the factors that lead to diabetes is obesity. More and more people are becoming weight-conscious and rely on pills and energy drinks to lose weight and stay fit. But the problem is that most dietary supplements and diet beverages actually contain a lot of sugar additives, which is not good for people who have diabetes, or are at least at risk of it.

Fortunately, there is one dietary supplement that’s safe and easy for diabetes sufferers to use. This is the Acai berry. You may have heard this product before, because Acai berry pills are now very popular and well-advertised.

Hit TV shows like Oprah and Rachel Ray have featured this wonderful product because of the benefits this fruit offers. Acai Berries have more antioxidants than any other fruit in the world. One antioxidant called anthocynin actually helps control your blood sugar. Unlike other fruits, Acai berries are low in sugar content, which makes it good for people who suffer from or are at risk of diabetes.

Diabetes drains the sufferer’s energy, making them feel tired and stressed. But Acai berries have a low glycemic index that actually prevents the uncontrolled sugar surges, slows energy flow and making diabetics feel less tired during the day.

The best places to find genuine Acai berry products is on the Internet, and it’s been found that Acai in pill/capsule forms are the best derivative of the fruit you can find.