Diabetes Information
Diabetes is the leading cause of
death in the United States. Some recent facts concerning
diabetes, presented by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention include:
• In the United States, as of 2002,
18.0 million people of the ages 20 years or older have
diabetes.
• About 65% of deaths among people
with diabetes are due to heart disease and stroke.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of
new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years.
• About 60%-70% of diabetics have
mild to severe forms of nervous system damage, such as:
slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel
syndrome, impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands.
• Gum disease is more common among
people with diabetes.
• Poorly controlled diabetes during
the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in
excessively large babies.
• Diabetics are more likely to die
with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have
diabetes.
Common symptoms of diabetes are:
weakness, hunger, thirst, weight loss, increased need to
urinate, sudden changes in vision, very dry skin, and sores
that are slow to heal. Diabetics also have sweet-smelling
breath and could suffer from confusion.
Insulin-dependent diabetes is the
least common form of this disease. Insulin-diabetes is more
commonly known as Type I diabetes, or juvenile-onset
diabetes. Patients with Type I diabetes are unable to
produce insulin. Diabetics with Type I diabetes are
genetically predisposed to the disease.
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes is
known as Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2
diabetes occurs when the body is unable to respond to
insulin. Type 2 diabetes is predominant in minorities. About
90%-95% of diabetics have this form of diabetes. Type 2
diabetics are also usually obese.
Gestational diabetes affects only
pregnant women. If it is not treated, it can cause many
problems for mothers and babies. The occurrence of
gestational diabetes is minimal, affecting only about less
than 5% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes usually
disappears when the pregnancy is over.
Treatment for diabetics will vary,
depending on the type of diabetes the patient has. Nutrition
and physical activity are the easiest changes for a diabetic
lifestyle. Insulin injections are required for Type I
diabetics. People with Type 2 diabetes will incorporate
blood glucose testing as well, and will require oral
medication, insulin, or both to control their blood glucose
levels.
If you have, or think you have
diabetes, you should visit your health care provider. Your
physician will help control your diabetes. Ask your
physician for more information on managing and controlling
your diabetes. Diabetics may also see other physicians, such
as podiatrists, opthalmologists, dieticians and
endocrinologists.
Hope Wilbanks is publisher of
DiabeticTipsOnline.com. She presents information on
diabetes supplies, diet and fitness, types of diabetes and
offers a quick guide on diabetes with fast facts about
diabetes that are easy to understand.
|
Fast track weight loss with 