Diabetes is a serious disease that is on the rise in America and very common in the There are three types of diabetes type 1, where the body fails to …
Mountains Community Hospital Health Education
All About Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious disease that is on the rise in America and very common in the mountain communities As always, education is the ultimate key to prevention Thats why weve dedicated this and next weeks column to this important health issue Following are a few interesting facts about diabetes, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association There are three types of diabetes type 1, where the body fails to produce enough insulin; type 2, where the body usually develops a resistance to insulin, which may lead to an inability to produce it; and gestational diabetes, a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy Percent of US population suffering from diabetes 63, or 182 million people Diagnosed versus undiagnosed sufferers 13 million versus 52 million Percent of total population age 20 or older suffering from diabetes 87 Percent of total population age 60 or older suffering from diabetes 183 New cases diagnosed per year among those age 20 or older 13 million In 2000, diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death listed on US death certificates Researchers believe associated deaths are likely higher, as
current estimates do not account for the tendency to underreport the disease on death certificates The risk for death among people with diabetes is twice as high as the risk among those who do not have the disease Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths Risk for stroke is two to four times higher among people with diabetes About 73 of diabetic adults also have high blood pressure Among adults 20 to 74 years old, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness Diabetes accounts for 43 of new cases of renal disease Between 60 and 70 of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage, resulting in symptoms such as impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach and carpal tunnel syndrome Of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the US, 60 occur among diabetic adults People with diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing periodontal or gum disease
Poorly controlled maternal diabetes both pre-conception and during pregnancy put a baby at greater risk for birth defects, intrauterine death and excessively high birth weight If detected early, people with a condition
called pre-diabetes can reduce their risk of full-blown type 2 diabetes through preventive measures such as diet control, exercise, weight loss and oral medication The most common symptoms of diabetes are frequent urinat 
ion, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision Should you experience any of these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible
The Three Faces of Diabetes: In last weeks column, we touched briefly on the three main types of diabetes type 1, type 2 and gestational Following is more detailed information on the three faces of one of Americas most common diseases Type 1 Diabetes: Previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes, this form of the disease develops when the immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells the only cells in the body capable of manufacturing the hormone insulin Usually diagnosed in children and young adults, conditions associated with type 1 diabetes include hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis and celiac disease Complications of the disease include heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage Fortunately, while type 1 diabetes is a
serious disease, it is often controllable through medications, diet and exercise Type 2 Diabetes: This most common form of diabetes results when the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough of the hormone to process glucose This resistance to or lack of insulin causes glucose to build up in the blood rather than be absorbed into cells Cells that do not receive enough glucose are starved for energy, and over time high blood glucose levels can damage the nerves, heart, kidneys and eyes Like type 1 diabetes, type 2 can also lead to complications such as heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage The disease also puts sufferers at higher risk for stroke Type 2 diabetes is correlated with obesity and inactivity, so exercise and diet are key factors in managing the disease Gestational Diabetes: When a woman who has never been diagnosed with diabetes suddenly demonstrates insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels during pregnancy, she is typically diagnosed with gestational diabetes If left untreated or poorly controlled, this kind of short-term diabetes can be dangerous for the baby developing in-utero, so early detection is critical
The diabetic
mothers extra blood glucose passes through the placenta, causing the baby to produce extra insulin The baby stores the excess energy as fat, which can result in excessively high birth weight and a greater risk for developing both childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes later on To learn more about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association at wwwdiabetesorg
Source:libertymedical.com
