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• WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.
• RISK FACTORS
The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. You are at risk of diabetes if: you are Latino, a woman, overweight, if you do not exercise regularly, if you are over 45 years of age, have a relative with diabetes, if you gave birth to a baby whose birth weight was over 9 lbs or more and if you had gestational diabetes*.
Finding out you have diabetes is scary.But don't panic. Type 2 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.
• KNOWING MORE ABOUT DIABETES
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 41 million people in the United States, ages 40 to 74, who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.
When your doctor has diagnosed you with diabetes, it does not mean you have lost the battle with the disease, but in fact it has only declared war and now it is your turn to turn it up a notch and defend yourself: “by controlling your diabetes”.
Certain basic changes in your everyday life can help prevent the development of diabetes they are: Losing weight, eating healthier meals, exercise, trying not to stress by keeping your worries in check.
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
New studies indicate that the detection of premature symptoms of diabetes and its treatment can reduce the possibility of developing complications of diabetes, what you have to pay close attention to is if you have experienced any of the following symptoms.
• SOME SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision
• Unusual weight loss
Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications. Some complications of type 2 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Learn more about these complications and how to cope with them.
If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away. You can also take our Online Diabetes Risk Test to find out if you are at risk for diabetes on the American Diabetes Association website, www.diabetes.org. You can find further information obtaining the online diabetes risk test, everyday tips, and recipes. You can also reach as at 1 800 DIABETES for more information.
(*) Gestational diabetes. Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes such as losing weight, making healthy food choices and exercising.
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