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Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
 Diabetes is a lifetime disease in which one's pancreas does not produce or properly use insulin. The body needs insulin to help glucose - a form of sugar the body uses for energy. The body make glucose from food that is eaten. When people have diabetes, glucose in their bloodstream reaches above normal levels and must be controlled.
Although the cause of diabetes is not certain, genetics (family history) as well as lifestyle factors like obesity and lack of physical activity, seem to be related to its development. Diabetes is a lifetime disease, but people with diabetes are living long, healthy, happy lives.
There are several types of diabetes:
Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and results from the body's failure to produce insulin. This type may account for 5 to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm )
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes and can be diagnosed at any age. This type results when the body either does not produce enough insulin or the insulin is not used properly. This type may account for about 90 to 595% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm)
Another type of diabetes appears during pregnancy in some women. It is called gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes usually disappears after pregnancy. Women who have had gestational diabetes, however, have a 20 to 50% chance of developing diabetes in the next five to ten years (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm)
Pre-diabetes is a condition often present prior to the development of type 2 diabetes. In pre-diabetes blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetic. Pre-diabetes does not have to lead to the development of diabetes as controlling weight and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. There are 41 million Americans who have pre-diabetes (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm)
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting approximately 760,000 Pennsylvanians. Many people have no symptoms and learn they have diabetes only when they seek help for one of the complications. At the present time there is no cure for diabetes, but research has shown that complications of diabetes can be greatly reduced with proper blood sugar control through healthy eating, physical activity, and use of medications. Still, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and is responsible for nearly 3,600 deaths in Pennsylvania each year. (PA Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics and Research).
What should I know about getting diabetes?
Know the risk factors and the signs and symptoms of possible diabetes. A blood test is necessary to check your glucose levels and determine if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse provides the following statements concerning your risk for diabetes. You are at risk for diabetes if any of the following statements describe you:
- I am over 45 years of age (those over 65 years of age are even higher risks)
- I have an inactive lifestyle (those who get little of not exercise during the day)
- I am a woman who has a baby weighing over nine pounds at birth
- I am a woman who has had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- I have a brother or sister with diabetes. I have a parent with diabetes.
- I have high blood pressure (more than equal to 140/90)
- I am a member of a high risk ethnic group (African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander)
Signs and symptoms include the following:
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Feeling very hungry or tired
- Losing weight without trying
- Slow to heal sores
- Dry, itchy skin
- Tingling or numbness in legs, feet or fingers
- Having blurry eyesight
Please consult your health care professional if you believe you have the risk factors associated with diabetes, or are experiencing the signs and symptoms.
What should I do if I do have diabetes?
Manage your diabetes!
Know your A1C level! In general, for every 1% reduction in an A1C blood test, the risk of developing complications such as eye, kidney and nerve disease is reduced by 40% (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm )
Control your blood pressure! Blood pressure control can reduce cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) by approximately 33 to 50% and can reduce eye, kidney and nerve disease by approximately 33% (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm )
Keep cholesterol in check! Improved control of cholesterol or blood lipids (HDL,LDL, Triglycerides) can reduces cardiovascular complications by 20 to 50% (Centers for Disease Control, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm )
Check those eyes, kidneys and feet! Heading off problems before they progress to more serious conditions is essential to protecting your health. Exam your feet and make sure your doctor does as well. Have regular comprehensive eye exams. Work with your doctor to ensure the health of your kidneys.
Proper management of diabetes, whether through diet, exercise and/or with medicine, can help prevent serious and possibly life threatening complications. It is important to work with your health care professional and to better learn about controlling the disease by participating in self-management classes.
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