However, some people never have symptoms of diabetes. The only way to know if you have diabetes is to see your doctor. A blood test is needed to diagnose diabetes. …
Leon County Health Department
Diabetes Awareness Month
Thousands of Floridians may be suffering from its symptoms, not even knowing they have diabetes That has doctors hoping to use Novembers designation as Diabetes Awareness month link to: http://wwwdiabetesorg/homejsp to boost early diagnosis and care A person with diabetes suffers from above normal blood glucose levels Glucose is the sugar our bodies use for energy Most of the food we eat is turned to glucose, which is sent to our cells with the help of insulin a hormone created in the pancreas A diabetic persons body either does not make enough insulin or can not use it efficiently The final result is sugar building up in the blood There are three main types of diabetes, each with its own symptoms, causes, and treatment options: Type 1 Diabetes–An Autoimmune Disease Characteristics: –accounts for 5 to 10 of diagnosed diabetes cases –often develops in children and young adults –causes not known, thought to be genetic or due to environmental factors –a persons immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas –pancreas then produces little or no insulin forcing the patient to take insulin each day
just to live Symptoms: –develops quickly –increased thirst and urination –constant hunger –weight loss –blurred vision –extreme fatigue Type 2 Diabetes–Most Common Form of Diabetes Characteristics: –accounts for 90-95 of diagnosed diabetes cases –associated with older age, but increasingly being diagnosed in children and teens –causes include obesity, family history, and ethnicity it strikes African Americans and American Indians more often than others –pancreas produces enough insulin in the beginning, but the body can not use it effectively –after several years insulin production decreases, causing a build up of glucose inside the blood Division of Health Education Symptoms: –develops gradually –fatigue –nausea
-weight loss -blurred vision -frequent infections and slow healing of wounds Gestational Diabetes –develops during pregnancy –frequently strikes minority populations –family history of disease also plays a role Diabetes is diagnosed with a fasting plasma glucose test link to: http://diabetesniddknihgov/dm/pubs/ diagnosis/2B About 8 of Floridians are diabetes patients, but medical professionals believe another 400,000 cases are undiagnosed Early
identification and treatment are optimal since the disease can impact every aspect of the body and result 
in: Blindness Heart and blood vessel disease Stroke Kidney failure Amputations Nerve damage Stroke
Fortunately, there are preventive measures that Floridians with diabetes can take to reduce the risks for heart disease and stroke, said Florida Department of Health Secretary M Rony François, MD, MSPH, PHD For example, they can manage the ABCs of diabetes, make wise food choices, enjoy some physical activity, take prescribed medication and quit smoking in order to cut the chances of these problems–every small step will help ABCs of Diabetes A is for A1C A1C is a blood glucose check showing a persons average blood glucose for the past two to three months The goal is less than 7 B is for Blood Pressure Diabetes and high blood pressure increase the risks of heart attack, stroke, eye and kidney disease The ideal blood pressure for people with diabetes is below 130/80 Check blood pressure often C is for Cholesterol LDL Cholesterol numbers show the amount of fat in ones blood HDL should be kept above 40, because this cholesterol can help protect the heart Leon County
Health Departments Chronic Disease Educator, Raechelle Wooten link to http:// wwwcoleonflus/LCPHU/education/indexasp , brings information about diabetes to health fairs and events throughout the area Her goal is to help people identify and receive early treatment for diabetes She also coordinates programs focusing on childhood obesity a leading cause for cases found in youngsters and offering advice to diabetes patients
Smart Choices for Diabetes Patients Eat less saturated fat Consume at least five serving of fruits and vegetables a day Choose lean meats Work towards a goal of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day Quit smoking
Wooten often refers people to the Tallahassee Memorial Diabetes Center link to http://wwwtmhorg/ diabetes/ The center is celebrating 15 years of programs aimed at helping new patients adjust to lifestyle changes as part of their treatment They are having to learn to change old habits, says Diabetes Center Director Dawn Smith They must integrate new information and skills into their routines Those skills include successfully checking their blood sugar, filing insurance claims for supplies, shopping for groceries, preparing meals and dealing with
stress Smith says demand for the centers services is on the increase, and clients are from all demographic backgrounds and age groups
Source:urbanext.uiuc.edu
