Information About Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious and dangerous disease in which the body does not produce insulin or properly use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose or sugar to enter the cells of the body where it is used for energy. Untreated, diabetes may cause blindness, kidney failure, strokes, amputations, and heart attacks. The American Diabetes Association states that there are approximately 18.2 million persons with diabetes in the United States. There are two major types of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

In Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. It is caused by the malfunctioning of the pancreas, an organ that produces insulin. Type 1 diabetics must take daily insulin injections to control their glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs during childhood or in young adults and occurs in 5%-10% of all diabetics.

Type 2 Diabetes

In Type 2 diabetes, formerly know as adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes, the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Glucose or sugar does not enter the cells and builds up in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. A family history of diabetes, aging, a diet high in fatty food, a lack of fiber (fruits, vegetables and whole grains), obesity or overweight, a lack of physical activity, and race/ethnicity are the most common risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Certain racial/ethnic groups such as Hispanics, African-Americans, Native-Americans, and Asians are at a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes can include:

being very thirsty
frequent urination
frequent hunger
tired and weak
losing weight without trying
having sores and wounds that heal slowly
having dry, itchy skin
loss of feeling in your feet or tingling sensations in the feet
having blurry eyesight

A person with diabetes may have one or more of these signs or they may have no signs at all. However, the more of these signs a person has, the quicker they should check with a physician .

Complications

Complications resulting from diabetes can include:

Blindness - Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S.
Heart disease/heart attacks - Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths.
Kidney failure - Diabetes is the leading cause of end stage kidney disease
Amputations - Amputations are disproportionately higher in Hispanics and African-Americans
Strokes - The risk of strokes is 2-4 times higher in people with diabetes.

Prevention

Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic. Not only is it increasing in adults, but now more and more children are developing the disease. The Bienestar Health Program is a school-based diabetes prevention program designed to teach children how to prevent diabetes. Children learn how to prevent diabetes by: