Our need for sleep is innate. If we don't get enough sleep, not only can we be cranky, but we don't perform at our best levels that day. People who are deprived of sleep risk falling asleep while driving, and not only injuring themselves, but other pedestrians or motorists on the road.

Now, we can add diabetes to the mix of improper sleep habits. A group of United States scientists have discovered that shift workers who have improper patterns of sleep, could be at increased risk for both obesity and diabetes. The improper sleep patterns were noted as not getting enough sleep and sleep at a non-normal time of the day.

Diabetes is a medical condition that can cause serious complications. It occurs when a person's body cannot properly utilize the hormone called insulin. Diabetes affects many of Americans and is a growing epidemic.

There are two common types of diabetes, which are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the more common of the two. There are also less common forms of diabetes, including gestational diabetes and juvenile diabetes.

In the early stages, some people are unaware that they have the disease. They may chalk off some of the early symptoms, not knowing that they are diabetes. However, if you are aware of the early symptoms, you can received treatment, including diet and exercise lifestyle advice to better manage the disease.

There are several early signs of the disease. An unusual thirst is one of the most common symptom. Along with the unusual thirst comes frequent urination. In a diabetic, cells in the body are lacking in fuel for energy. This makes the diabetic feel like they have an abnormally large increase in appetite. Even with an abnormal increase in appetite, some individuals begin to experience a sudden, substantial loss in weight.