Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association: Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.

With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

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Millions of Americans have Type-2 diabetes, and many of them don’t take the disease seriously enough. However, diabetes is serious, it’s deadly and, in most cases, it can be prevented.

The Facts:

• 17 million Americans are living with diabetes and one-third of them don't even know it.
• Diabetes kills more people each year than AIDS and breast cancer combined.
• Every year, one million new cases are diagnosed.
• Experts are alarmed by the increase in Type-2 diabetes, which accounts for 90-95% of all cases.
• 13% of African Americans have diabetes and African Americans are twice as likely to develop the disease.
• More and more children are being diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, something unheard of a decade ago.

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Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic. Type 1 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.

Complications

Having type 1 diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy).

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Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:

• Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
• Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic. Type 2 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.

While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.

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Diabetes can be diagnosed in females of any age, and the number of cases in both male and female patients is on the rise. Diabetes presents different challenges at different stages of a woman’s life. Younger diabetic women may be more prone to recurrent yeast infections, nursing mothers may face new challenges avoiding low blood sugar and women after menopause may face seriously increased risk of heart disease, stroke or reduced mental sharpness. Therefore, diabetic women are urged to learn all they can about their condition at each stage of life and to make healthy lifestyle changes that have been recommended by their physicians.

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Diabetes is often a silent killer. People don’t recognize their symptoms until they’ve become serious. According to many doctors, early symptoms include:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Constant extreme hunger
• Yeast infections in women
• Stomach pains
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Blurry vision

Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can save your life. If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.

If you do not have diabetes we strongly encourage you to take precautions against the development of the disease by eating a heart-healthy diet, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular exercise.

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One of the strongest risk factors for developing diabetes is obesity. Eighty percent of Type-2 diabetes sufferers are overweight.

Heart Disease and Stroke

People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.

Kidney Disease

Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.

Eye Complications

Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.

Neuropathy and Nerve Damage

One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.

Foot Complications

People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.

Skin Complications

As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.

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* Text Resources: The Mayo Clinic Staff