Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin produced properly. There are three types of diabetes, type 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes), type 2 (formerly called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes) and gestational diabetes (diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy).

What causes diabetes? Scientists aren't sure, but heredity, obesity, lack of exercise, and other factors play a part.

Type 2 diabetes makes it hard for the body to use glucose (sugar). Food is still changed into glucose. The glucose still travels in the bloodstream to the cells. But problems with insulin make it hard for glucose to enter the cells.

Understanding how food affects blood glucose is the first step in managing diabetes. And following a diabetes meal plan can help keep you on track.

Ignoring your symptoms can end up costing more in the long run because many conditions are more quickly and easily treated if diagnosed in their early stages.

No one knows exactly what causes type 2 diabetes. But we do know that certain behaviors and conditions, called risk factors, can make people more likely to develop it. Here are some risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Having pre-diabetes not only puts you at higher risk for diabetes, but also raises the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that greatly raises your risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Having pre-diabetes means that you are likely to develop full-blown diabetes within 10 years. But lifestyle changes can prevent that from happening.

In adults, a screening blood sugar test is generally used to determine if your blood sugar is too high. For adults, having an elevated blood sugar usually will not give you symptoms and may indicate a pending or current problem with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be especially deadly for women. What behaviors do women need to change? Basically, the big two: eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.

"If you do have diabetes, educate yourself and start managing your illness," LaBelle says.

Metabolic syndrome is marked by higher levels of glucose in the blood. That's also a sign of pre-diabetes.