Hot Topic: Diabetes: Reduce Your Risk
One in three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime and there are presently over 20 million people in the United States (or 7% of the population) who have diabetes today. Although 14.6 million of them have been diagnosed with the disease, another 6.2 million people are unaware they have the disease and so are at increased risk for other diseases.
In addition to the 20.8 million people with diabetes, it is estimated that an additional 41 million Americans have “pre-diabetes”. This is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Many people first become aware that they have diabetes when they develop one of its life-threatening complications such as:
-Heart Disease and Stroke
-High Blood Pressure
-Blindness
-Kidney Disease
-Nervous System Damage
-Amputations
-Dental Disease
-Pregnancy Complications
-Sexual Dysfunction
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin (a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life). The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play key roles. There is no known cure for diabetes but the management of blood glucose (sugar) is the cornerstone of diabetes care. There are several different types of diabetes; they are:
Type 1 diabetes - this type of diabetes accounts for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes and requires that insulin be taken to control the disease. Approximately one in every 400 to 500 children and adolescents have type 1 diabetes. Risk factors are less well-defined for type 1 diabetes than for type 2 diabetes, but autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are believed to be involved in the development of this type of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes - may account for about 90% to 95% (17 million people) of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. This type of diabetes can often be controlled by diet and regular physical activity although some people may also need to take diabetes pills or insulin. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes - affects about 4% of all pregnant women and usually disappears when a pregnancy is over, women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for later developing type 2 diabetes. Some studies have reported that approximately 40% of women with a history of gestational diabetes eventually developed diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs more frequently in African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and people with a family history of diabetes than in other groups. Obesity is also associated with higher risk.
Other types of diabetes have been known to result from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses. These forms of diabetes may account for 1% to 2% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
You are at risk of developing diabetes if you:
1. Are older than 45.
2. Are overweight.
3. Have a close family member, like a parent, brother, or sister, who has, or had, diabetes.
4. Have had diabetes when you were pregnant.
5. Are African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or Native American.
Symptoms that may be indicative of diabetes are:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme hunger
- Sudden vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Feeling very tired much of the time
- Very dry skin
- Sores that are slow to heal
- More infections than usual.
While heart disease is the leading cause of death for diabetic Americans, millions of them fail to make the connection between these two life-threatening conditions. Most diabetics consider kidney complications, blindness, and amputations to be their greatest risks, but an alarming 2 out of 3 people with diabetes will die from heart attack or stroke. Diabetics are more likely to also have other health problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol that contribute to an increased risk for heart attacks and stroke. People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to suffer a stroke than people without diabetes.
People with diabetes are also more susceptible to many other illnesses and, once they acquire these illnesses, often have worse prognoses than people without diabetes. Diabetics are more likely to die with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have the disease. Periodontal or gum diseases are more common among people with diabetes than among people without diabetes and approximately one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal diseases with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth.
Your risk for diabetes may be significantly reduced by:
·keeping your weight in control;
·eating low fat meals that are HIGH in fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods;
·staying active most days of the week.
If you are at risk and have one or more symptoms of diabetes, please see your healthcare provider now. Irreversible complications may result from lack of or improper treatment of diabetes. Careful monitoring and treatment will prevent cardiovascular and kidney disease and save your eyesight. For additional information about diabetes, contact your healthcare provider or local health department.
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/hot-topic/diabetes_reduce_your_risk.php