If you have diabetes, the body has problems with this process, and the possible to control diabetes so that you can live a full and healthy life. …
Diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body can not produce insulin or use it properly Insulin is a hormone necessary to convert blood sugar, or blood glucose, into energy Blood glucose is made in the body from the sugar, starches, and other food we eat Insulin is normally produced in the body by the pancreas The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream, which is carried to cells throughout the body where it turns glucose into energy If you have diabetes, the body has problems with this process, and the glucose remains in the bloodstream Cells become starved for energy, and the high levels of glucose in the bloodstream cause problems throughout the body Diabetes is a permanent disease that can not be reversed once you have it However, it is possible to control diabetes so that you can live a full and healthy life
What are the three types of diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes previously known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, IDM, or juvenile diabetes usually starts during childhood or adolescence and accounts for approximately 5 10 of all cases of diabetes Because the body does not produce the insulin it needs, insulin
injections are usually required Specific risk factors for this type of diabetes are unclear Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes previously known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, NIDDM, or adult-onset diabetes 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, sometimes Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed at younger ages, including childhood and adolescence Gestational Diabetes: Between 2 5 of pregnant women develop a temporary form of diabetes known as gestational diabetes This form of diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy However, women and their children who have had gestational diabetes are at higher risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes later in life
National Alliance for Hispanic Health 1501 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-1401
Diabetes
What is Pre-diabetes?
When you are tested for diabetes and the level of glucose in your blood is higher than normal, but lower than the diabetes range, it is called pre-diabetes People with prediabetes are at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes Fortunately, learning that you have pre-diabetes can often
provide an opportunity to prevent diabetes from developing by adopting healthier habits such as increasing your level of exercise, eating healthier foods, and losing a modest amount of weight
What are the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes?
The major risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes are: Begin over the age of 45 Being overweight Having a close family member like a parent or sibling who has or has had diabetes Having had diabetes when you were pregnant Being Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
Can Type 2 diabetes be prevented?
As Hispanics we are all aware that diabetes is a very common problem in our communities The best way to deal with Type 2 diabetes is to try to prevent it in the first place Although its causes are not well understood, insufficient exercise and being overweight are the greatest risk factors for all of us Studies have shown that moderate amounts of exercise and healthy diet changes can delay and possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes Therefore, to the extent that we can exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight we will greatly limit the development of this disease If diabetes
appears despite these efforts, 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, as with any other disease, our attitude day by day can influence to what degree the 
disease will affect the quality of our lives
National Alliance for Hispanic Health 1501 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-1401
Diabetes
What are the symptoms of diabetes? Urinating often Being very thirsty Feeling very hungry Feeling very tired or ill Losing weight without trying Having sores that are slow to heal Having dry, itchy skin Blurry vision In women, genital itching and fungal infections vulvovaginitis Loss of feeling in your feet or having a tingling feeling in your feet Remember, in many cases there are no symptoms of diabetes Why is early detection so important?
Hispanics are more likely than the general population to develop diabetes It is estimated that nearly 10 of Hispanics 18 years of age and older have diabetes While diabetes is serious, it is a highly manageable chronic condition However, Hispanics are more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes than
non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks When diabetes is undiagnosed or untreated, many long-term complications follow These include heart disease, stroke, hypertension, blindness, kidney disorders, loss of sensation in the feet and legs, and amputations
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Your health care provider will conduct a screening test to measure the amount of glucose in your blood The three most common screening tests for diabetes are the fasting plasma glucose test, or FPG commonly used for diagnosing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT commonly used for diagnosing gestational or prediabetes, and the random plasma glucose test commonly used when a patient has not fasted and therefore can not take the FPG or OGTT tests The FPG and random plasma glucose tests are conducted by drawing blood and sending it to the laboratory for analysis The OGTT involves drawing blood for analysis after you drink a dose of glucose solution
National Alliance for Hispanic Health 1501 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-1401
Diabetes
What is involved in the management of diabetes?
The goal of diabetes management is to keep your blood glucose levels as close to
the normal range as possible To reach this goal, 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 management approach requires special care from a well-trained medical team, psychosocial support services, and a self-management education plan Appropriate physical activity, healthy eating, and commitment to self-care guidelines complement the therapeutic regimen to manage blood glucose levels for all types of diabetes People with diabetes should avoid smoking Smoking raises blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels, all of which are of concern for people with diabetes Studies have shown that people with diabetes who smoke are more likely to get heart disease than people with diabetes who do not smoke 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 oral medication and/or insulin to bring their glucose levels close to the normal
range
Resources
National Diabetes Education Program NDEP 1-800-438-5383 or http://ndepnihgov National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1-800-860-8747 or http://wwwniddknihgov/health/diabetes/ndichtm National Alliance for Hispanic Health Su Familia: National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-783-2645 or http://wwwhispanichealthorg American Diabetes Association Diabetes Information and Action Line 1-800-342-2383 or http://wwwdiabetesorg
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National Alliance for Hispanic Health 1501 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-1401
Source:hhmi.org
