Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and it occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. It can be controlled with changes in diet, exercise and taking prescribed medication.

With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin, the hormone that turns sugar (glucose) into energy for the body's cells. For the rest of their lives, people with type 1 diabetes have to put insulin in their bodies through the use of an insulin pump or multiple insulin injections each day to survive. Although this type of diabetes will not go away, type 1 diabetics are living stronger, healthier lives with good treatment and management of their condition.

Type 1 is also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. Many are diagnosed in adolescents, but it can occur at any age. Five to 10 percent of all diabetics have type 1. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) estimates as many as 3 million people have type 1 diabetes, and 40 children each day get diagnosed.

A year ago, 6-year-old Peyton Lopes of Florissant became one of them.

“Just all of a sudden, he was getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom,” Peyton's mother, Kathy Lopes, said. “And it was just like every night, once or twice and then every time he got up, he would say, 'I'm really thirsty ? I need a drink.'”

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, symptoms of type 1 diabetes ? increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, blurred vision and extreme fatigue ? usually develop over a short period of time. If type 1 diabetics are not diagnosed and treated, a person can lapse into a life-threatening coma.

One day at work, his mom mentioned Peyton's symptoms to someone who told her it sounded like the symptoms of diabetes. She Googled and confirmed the symptoms ? then she immediately called the pediatrician and made an appointment.

“We were not at the doctor's but 15-20 minutes. They took a urine sample and they said, 'You are going to the hospital right now.' I said, 'I can't even go home and get a suitcase or anything?' and they said, 'No. You are going straight to the hospital.'” Peyton's mother said.

Peyton, his father, Tony Lopes, and his mother spent a few days at St. John's Hospital. Peyton was getting his glucose levels normalized and his parents were learning how to administer live-saving insulin to a diabetic child.

“We found out that he had probably had diabetes for a month or so prior to us finding this out,” Tony Lopes said.

They also learned what foods are best for him and how to count his carbohydrates, which turn into sugar, which is what his pancreas cannot process anymore ? the reason he needs insulin.

Peyton is on a minimum of four shots a day.

“On both arms, or the thighs and also the bottom,” Peyton described.

“He gets one after every meal ? breakfast, lunch and dinner. He gets one before bedtime and then throughout the day,” his dad explained. “If he feels symptomatic or he says that he is excessively thirsty or he feels shaky or he has a headache or something, we may check his blood sugar. The doctor has him at a targeted rate ? and if he has high blood sugar, then he gets what is called a corrective dose and he will have another shot at that point in time.”

“There are times when Peyton will tell us, 'That hurts,' or sometimes we will ask him, 'Peyton, did that hurt?' and he'll tell us 'No.'” Tony Lopes said.

“He understands that he needs to get these shots in order for us to help him in his disease and sometimes he can get very frustrated about it ? especially if he needs a corrective dose.”

“It doesn't hurt as bad, though,” Peyton said. He has also learned how to check his own glucose levels, record them in a log book and report the results to his parents.

The Lopes said when he has mastered counting his own carbohydrates, they will move toward the insulin pump for his doses.

They also use insulin injector pens, which have smaller, less menacing-looking needles and they don't need refrigeration.

Right now, the family is experiencing what was described to them as a diabetes honeymoon stage, when the pancreas may sporadically produce some insulin which can make Peyton's glucose levels fluctuate, sometimes dramatically.

“This can go on for a period of up to two years and then the pancreas finally shuts down, stops producing insulin, period. And then you can regulate the blood sugars more and get them more regulated and even,” his dad said. “But the doctors also told us this is not an exact science and when his blood sugars are high, she says to just go back and take a look. Okay ? did he have exercise? Did he eat something? Just try to go back and review why you think he is high or why do you think he is low. Did he get enough carbohydrates or did he get too much insulin? Did the pancreas decide to kick in additional insulin to bring him down? So it is not an exact science, they say.”

“His target range is 90 to 180. And so if he is really below that, we have to make sure he bring him up, whether we give him a soda or a snack or a protein,” his mother said.

Peyton met other children with type 1 diabetes at a JDRF retreat. The organization also sent the family a welcome kit with a book bag of materials. They use it to store his medicine. JDRF has assisted in other practical matters as well.

“Daycares that will administers Peyton's shot in the afternoon or for his lunch or something has been a very, very difficult thing to do, but the JDRF has volunteers and representatives that will go to school, go to daycares, go wherever you need them to and they will teach people about diabetes and give them the shots or deal with the carbs and everything else,” his dad said.

The best things about Peyton's condition is that he runs, plays sports and eats what everyone else eats and the family has great support systems –plus, they say they treat him no different from any other child.

“When Peyton first got sick and we were in the hospital, I told him, 'You know what? This doesn't change anything, buddy. You can still do everything that you've always done,” his father assured. “It just becomes an inconvenience and we have to do things a little differently, but you will be fine … there is nothing you cannot do.'”

For more information about type 1 diabetes, go to www.jdrf.org or www.diabetes.org .