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What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition in which the body does not make or respond to insulin, a hormone secreted from the pancreas that converts sugar and starch from food into energy. This energy is used by the body cells.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes accounts for only 5-10 percent of all diabetes cases and is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, and extreme fatigue. Individuals with type 1 diabetes need to take daily insulin injections in order to regulate blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the pancreas secretes insulin, but the muscles, liver, and fat do not utilize it as well. As a result, cells are starved of energy. This is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood, however, onset can begin as early as childhood. Type 2 diabetes tends to develop more gradually than type 1 and for this reason, symptoms can be overlooked. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent infections, infections that are slow to heal, blurred vision, dry/itchy skin, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, increased hunger/thirst, and frequent urination.
How Does Diabetes Affect the Heart?
When you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop heart disease and to have it at an earlier age than people without diabetes. Complications of diabetes include microvascular and macrovascular damage including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, gum infections, and amputation. Diabetic individuals are 2-4 times more likely to have heart disease than non-diabetics, and 2-4 times more likely to suffer a stroke. Approximately 75 percent of those with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
High Risk Populations
Type 2 diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions due to an increase in obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and the number of older Americans. Overweight or obese individuals are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes because body cells are less sensitive to insulin, leaving sugar floating in the bloodstream. Please take the Diabetes Risk Quiz to determine your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Facts
- Up to 60 percent of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure.
- Nearly all people with diabetes have one or more lipid abnormality.
- Approximately 27 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes would have been able to prevent it had they avoided weight gain.
Prevent Diabetes
Findings from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) suggest that type 2 diabetes can be delayed through regular exercise and healthful eating patterns especially in those people with impaired glucose tolerance. Impaired glucose tolerance is a condition that often precedes the diagnosis of diabetes. On average, study participants in the DPP reduced their weight 5-7% by eating a low-fat diet and exercising 30 minutes per day. Additionally, you can reduce your risk of developing type two diabetes by:
- Making regular doctor appointments. If you have a family history of diabetes, it is important that you see your doctor on a regular basis.
- Eating healthful foods. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Pay close<
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