• changes in eating habits (eating more but still losing weight)
• unexplained weight loss
• unexplained hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
• low energy levels
• frequent urination

• Taking your medicines as prescribed
• Participating in a physical therapy or stretching
• Exercising regularly by swimming, riding a stationary bike or walking to build muscle strength.
• Getting enough sleep every night
• Trying self-massage or trigger point massage therapy
• Getting a professional massage.

Chris Thomas never planned to start a revolution. It just happened that way.

In 2007, Thomas was like any other fresh-out-of-college kid. After seven years working in the bar and restaurant business, he was having a hard time adjusting to a daytime work schedule. Or, at least, that's what he thought.

Though he drank high-sugar sodas and sports drinks, he was constantly sluggish, which he attributed to his frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom. The sugar high helped combat his sleepiness and dry mouth, but after a few months, he realized that he was losing weight. He could barely keep 115 pounds on his once-150-pound frame.

Uninsured, Thomas searched the Internet for a diagnosis. His sleuthing led him to determine that a thyroid condition, which ran in his family, was likely. His mom handed him a blank check, and he scheduled a doctor's appointment for May 28, 2007.

Within hours of arriving at the doctor's office, Thomas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The rest of the day and most of the weeks that followed were a blur. The pamphlets he received that explained his new condition were vague and depressing. Each one outlined a limited future: shots, constant blood-sugar monitoring and terrifying complications. And that was only if he could afford the medical supplies.

Filled with frustration and anger, he considered his options. Despite his supportive family, he couldn't stay in the Midwest where he suddenly felt like a freak. His friends' concern, though justified, often came across as overbearing. They didn't understand the new challenges his diagnosis presented, nor did they understand why Thomas was edgy when they suggested he overhaul his eating habits and lifestyle. He packed his bags and left for New York City, moving in with a distant cousin he had never met.

Thomas consulted with a dietitian but still had no idea how to manage his health. Half of his paycheck already went to medical supplies; specialists who could have provided additional counseling were a luxury he couldn't afford.

Being in his mid-20s didn't make life easier. He stayed out until dawn and ignored all but the easiest-to-adhere-to advice. He constantly pushed the envelope, and when it looked like he might be in trouble, he pushed harder.

"You're a diabetic rock star," his friends exclaimed. The moniker stuck.

Within months, though, Thomas had his first real diabetic emergency. His blood sugar crashed while he was house-sitting -- and, because he had shaken off the warning signs, he spent a terrifying half hour stumbling around the empty kitchen looking for anything to fend off a seizure.

"That's when I realized that I was dealing with something I might not be able to handle," Thomas said. "I could feel it coming on, but that was the first time I realized that this thing was a monster that I had to try to control."

In a city of nearly eight million people, Thomas felt alone. He didn't know anyone else with his condition. So he started a blog where he could chronicle his struggles with diabetes. Other diabetics commented on his posts, offering their own insights. And slowly, Diabetic Rockstar was born.

Today, Diabetic Rockstar is a multifaceted organization helping recently diagnosed diabetics understand, cope with and fight their disease.

Primarily started as a site where diabetics could create profiles and share their experiences, it now includes a social network specifically for diabetics under age 18 and a mentoring program for adults.

Rock stars, according to Thomas, don't accept the status quo.

Several companies that manufacture testing meters found Thomas's site. One sent $13,000 worth of supplies for Thomas to distribute to those who couldn't afford their own. Thomas posted a message, letting his readers know he had free supplies that he could send them if they couldn't afford their own. And The Fight IT! Campaign, a charity that provides supplies like testing meters and strips to those who can't afford them, took off.

"Other organizations focus on awareness and research," Thomas said. "We want to fight for the people who have diabetes right now, especially those who can't afford their treatments. What good is a cure if you don't live long enough to see it?"

As if Thomas doesn't have enough to focus on, his vision keeps getting bigger. He wants to end the stereotypes associated with his condition.

"Diabetics aren't damaged goods," he said. "It's not that all of us were overweight people who didn't take care of ourselves. We're just like everyone else. We have to be careful, but we can lead normal lives."

Check out AOL Health for more information on diabetes care.

• Monitor your blood sugar. Practice good blood sugar control by monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly. You should also have a glycosylated hemoglobin test ever three to six months.
  
• Practice good health habits. Visit your doctor and dentist regularly, exercise often and eat a healthy, varied diet.
  
• Have an annual eye exam. This should be done from the time of diagnosis in people with type 2 diabetes, and starting five years after diagnosis in people with type 1 diabetes.
  
• Avoid illness by staying up-to-date on your immunizations.

Recognizing the symptoms of diabetes can often help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment. There are currently 5.7 million people who have undiagnosed diabetes in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually come on quickly within days or weeks. The following can be signs of type 1 diabetes:

• Your appetite has increased, and you're still losing weight.
• You're fatigued or irritable.
• Your vision is blurry.
• You're dehydrated.

Once diagnosed, you will still experience high and low blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels develop slowly. Low blood sugar levels can develop in minutes. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, weakness and hunger. Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased thirst and urination.

Most people make resolutions to lose weight in January. For diabetics, sticking to a meal plan is more about staying healthy than looking great.

Your diet should be low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sweets. It should also be high in fiber, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your dietitian can help create an individualized meal plan, but the basics will be the same regardless of your health status.

People with diabetes should get most (45-55%) of their daily calories from complex carbohydrates including vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals. The simple sugars found in low-fat dairy and fruit are included as healthy carbohydrates, too.

It's important to remember that blood glucose levels can be affected by how foods are prepared. Raw veggies are digested more slowly than those that have been cooked. Fruit juices will affect your blood-sugar level faster than eating a piece of fruit.

Make sure to limit your sugar and alcohol as well as fats. Diabetics can consume sugar as long as they plan for it and adjust their insulin dosage accordingly. Alcohol must be treated in a similar way.

Those with diabetes should opt for polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.

Dietary goals are different depending on the type of diabetes you have. Check AOL Health for more information on how to improve your diet.

There was no link between job stressors and diabetes risk in men. In women, 10 percent of all type 2 diabetes cases would have been prevented had the women had more control over their work and less stringent demands placed on them. Social support would have helped the women in the work environment, too.

Most medical professionals agree: People need to find ways to reduce stress in their lives and view it as a health risk factor similar to obesity, low physical activity, and poor diet.

If you're thinking about skipping your regular visit to your dentist, think again.

A New York University nursing-dental research team has discovered that those who have periodontal (gum) disease are also at high risk for diabetes. The same researchers concluded that dentists should consider offering diabetes screenings in their offices.

Using guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association, the team determined that 93 percent of subjects who had periodontal disease were considered high risk for diabetes and should be screened for the disease.

Dentists won't hand out diabetes diagnoses; but, researchers are encouraging dentists to screen patients for diabetes by evaluating other risk factors: obesity, belonging to a high-risk ethnic group, having high blood pressure, having a relative with the disease or having given birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds. Dentists could also use a glucometer - a tool that measures blood glucose - to analyze blood samples.

At the end of the diabetes evaluation, a dentist might recommend that the patient see a doctor for a true diabetes screening.

Visit AOL Health to learn more about diagnosing diabetes.

• Breast size: If you're a size D or larger at age 20, you may be up to five times more likely to develop diabetes than your flat-chested friends.
• Birth month: If you're a spring baby, you're more likely to develop type 1 diabetes in the U.S., according to a CDC study.
• Slow-healing cuts: If your cuts stick around longer, it could be a symptom of type 2 diabetes. That's because your blood vessels are a little thinner than they should be while the vessel walls are a little thicker. That means your blood system can't carry infection-fighting white blood cells to the site of the cut, which delays healing time.
• Tooth Loss: If you have periodontal disease or tooth loss, your likelihood for diabetes increases 14 to 29 percent.

Diabetes can be unpredictable. Your blood-sugar can drop too low fairly quickly and the long-term consequences of diabetes aren't pretty. Still, with good self-management, you can minimize your chances of developing complications. To stay healthy and avoid the complications that can arise over time, it is important to follow some basic health guidelines. Like anyone else, you should eat a healthy diet, exercise and visit your doctor regularly. Check out AOL Health for other self-management tips.

In the holiday season's hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget to take care of your health. Low blood sugar isn't uncommon. Ignoring it, however, can lead to trouble. Make sure that you pay attention to your body and the warning signs that you might have low blood sugar like dizziness when standing.

Also, remember to carry a medical identification card and wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace at all times. Make sure your friends, family members and co-workers know what to do in an emergency.

Severe hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma are among the most common diabetic emergencies. Check out AOL Health's guide to diabetic emergencies.