Diabetes

An estimated 23.6 million people, 7.8% of the U.S population are diagnosed with diabetes. It’s one of the leading causes of death and disability.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism-the way the body uses or converts food for energy and growth. There are two types of Diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas produces little to no insulin. A person who suffers from type 1 diabetes must take insulin on a daily basis. Symptoms include: persistent hunger, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, blurred vision and extreme fatigue. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and affects 90-95% of all reported cases. Type 2 diabetes is where the pancreas for reasons unknown, can’t use insulin effectively, a condition known as insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases. Symptoms include: increased thirst and hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing wounds or sores. There are some people who have symptoms so mild, they go unnoticed.

Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. Even though this condition normally disappears after pregnancy, there is a 40-60% chance it returns again several years latter. Some woman never develop symptoms.

How is Diabetes managed?
Healthy eating, increased physical activity and taking insulin is the best prognosis for type 1 diabetes. Blood glucose levels must be closely monitored. Healthy eating, increased physical activity and blood glucose testing is the best monitoring of type 2 diabetes. In addition, some people may have to take pills, insulin or other injectable medicine to control their blood glucose levels.

Everyone knows someone who has diabetes. It is important for us to stay healthy, excersise, and maintain a healthy weight.

For additional information contact the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org/