approximately 90 - 95% of all cases of diabetes. However, in recent years, type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed at gestational diabetes. …
Diabetes
Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-SU-FAMILIA 1-866-783-2645
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body cannot use sugar glucose properly It is not that you have too much sugar, but rather that your body cannot use the sugar that you take in Instead of being used properly by the cells in your body, the sugar remains in your bloodstream A hormone called insulin, which is naturally produced by the pancreas in a healthy body, plays a critical role in the bodys ability to use sugar The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream, which carries it throughout the body Once insulin arrives where it needs to go, it acts as a gatekeeper, allowing sugar to enter the cells and provide the fuel they need to function When a person has diabetes, there are problems with this process
What are the three types of diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, IDDM, or juvenile diabetes usually starts during childhood or adolescence, and accounts for approximately 5 - 10 of all cases of diabetes Because insulin production is virtually nonexistent, insulin injections are usually required Specific risk
factors for this type of diabetes are unclear Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, NIDDM accounts for approximately 90 - 95 of all cases of diabetes This is a more controllable form of diabetes which usually occurs in adults ages 40 and above However, in recent years, type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed at younger ages, including childhood and adolescence Type 2 diabetes is more common in women than in men, and it is almost always found in individuals who are overweight Gestational Diabetes: Between 2 - 5 of pregnant women develop a temporary form of diabetes known as gestational diabetes This occurs among Hispanic women almost twice as often than among non-Hispanic women Women who have had gestational diabetes are at risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes later in life
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
The major risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes are: l Being over the age of 45 l Being overweight l Having a close family member like a parent or sibling who has or has had diabetes l Having had diabetes when you were pregnant
National Alliance for Hispanic Health l 1501 16th Street, NW l Washington, DC 20036-1401
http://wwwhispanichealthorg
Diabetes
Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-SU-FAMILIA 1-866-783-2645
Can we prevent diabetes?
Recent studies point to the fact that moderate diet and exercise can delay and possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes As Hispanics we are all aware that diabetes is a very common problem in our communities The best way to deal with diabetes is to try to prevent its appearance in the first place, which is most easily done with Type 2 diabetes Although its causes are not well understood, insufficient exercise and being overweight are the greatest risk factors for all of us Therefore, to the extent that we exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight we can do a great deal to block the appearance of this disease If diabetes appears despite these efforts, we should understand that many of the complications of diabetes can be prevented by paying careful attention to how we take care of ourselves and by working closely with our health care providers With diabetes, almost more than any other disease, our attitude day by day will determine how the disease will affect the quality of our lives
What are the symptoms of diabetes? ?
l l l l l l
l l l l
Losing weight without trying
Urinating often Being very thirsty Feeling very hungry Feeling very tired
Having sores that are slow to heal Having dry, itchy skin In women, genital itching and funga 
l infections vulvovaginitis Losing feeling in your feet or having a tingling feeling in your feet Blurry vision
Why is early detection so important?
Hispanics are more likely than the general population to get diabetes It is estimated that 5 of Hispanics between the ages of 20 and 44 have diabetes, and that about 20 of Hispanics between the ages of 45 and 74 have diabetes Diabetes is serious, but it is a highly manageable chronic condition However, half of all Hispanics with diabetes have not been diagnosed When diabetes is undiagnosed or untreated, many longterm complications follow These include cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, blindness, kidney disorders, loss of sensation in the feet and legs, and amputations
National Alliance for Hispanic Health l 1501 16th Street, NW l Washington, DC 20036-1401 http://wwwhispanichealthorg
Diabetes
Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-SU-FAMILIA 1-866-783-2645
How is diabetes diagnosed?
First, your
health care provider will conduct a screening test to see if you have more glucose in your blood than your body can process This is usually done through the simple pricking of a finger to obtain a drop of blood If the result is positive, your health care provider will want to administer more specific diagnostic tests The three best known tests for diabetes are the fasting plasma glucose test the preferred test for diagnosing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the random plasma glucose test, and the oral glucose tolerance test only for gestational diabetes
What is involved in the treatment of diabetes?
The goal of diabetes treatment is to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible Daily monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential Your health care provider may ask you to monitor yourself several times a day to help determine how different foods, activities, emotions, and thoughts make your blood glucose levels fluctuate A successful treatment approach requires special care from a well-trained medical team, psychosocial support, and self-management education plans Appropriate physical activity, healthy eating, and following self-care guidelines are elements that complement the
therapeutic regimen to manage blood glucose levels for both types of diabetes While it is not clear what impact smoking has on diabetes, we do know that people who smoke are more likely to get heart disease than people with diabetes who do not smoke Persons with diabetes should avoid smoking Additionally, Type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin supplied by injection or pump infusion to regulate glucose levels Many people with Type 2 diabetes may also need to take oral medication and/or insulin to bring their glucose levels close to normal range
National Alliance for Hispanic Health l 1501 16th Street, NW l Washington, DC 20036-1401 http://wwwhispanichealthorg
Diabetes
Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-SU-FAMILIA 1-866-783-2645
Additional resources
National Alliance for Hispanic Health Su Familia Helpline 1-866-SU-FAMILIA 1-866-783-2645 http://wwwhispanichealthorg American Association of Diabetes Educators 1-800-832-6874 http://wwwaadenetorg American Diabetes Association Diabetes Information and Action Line 1-800-diabetes 800-342-2383 bilingual staff available http://wwwdiabetesorg Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International 1-800-JDF-CURE
1-800-533-2873 http://wwwjdrforg National Diabetes Education Program 1-800-438-5383 http://ndepnihgov National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1-800-860-8747 http://wwwniddknihgov/health/diabetes/ndichtm
National Alliance for Hispanic Health l 1501 16th Street, NW l Washington, DC 20036-1401 http://wwwhispanichealthorg
Rev 03/03
Source:mdch.state.mi.us
