(Photos by Kelsey Battern) The Medicine Shoppe on National Road in Wheeling offers a variety of products for diabetics, as shown by pharmacy intern Ryan Bane, left, and pharmacist Anthony Martino.

It has become a way of life for more than 23.6 million Americans. After a meal or suffering a slight “dizzy spell,” they coax out a tiny drop of blood from their finger and test it for the glucose level. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects roughly 8 percent of the population directly and touches millions more of their friends and loved ones. Diabetes affects how the body utilizes insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that is vital in converting glucose (sugar), starches and other foods into the energy needed for daily life. Diabetes can stem from both genetics and certain environmental factors, especially diet and exercise. Out of the four variations of the disease — Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational and prediabetes — Type 2 is the most prevalent in Americans. TYPE 1 Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and, according to the American Diabetes Association, affects an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of Americans with diabetes. Patients with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin on their own, as the pancreas does not provide the insulin needed to convert food into energy. Therefore, patients must obtain insulin from injections. Several conditions and complications are tied to Type 1 diabetes, including hyperglycemia (low blood sugar), hypoglycemia (high blood sugar), ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) and celiac disease. TYPE 2 Type 2 diabetes is the most common in the United States.