An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a serious and lifelong condition. Of those 23.6 million, 17.9 million have been diagnosed and 5.7 million have not. The number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes has risen from 1.5 million in 1958 to 18.8 million in 2010. It is estimated that 79 million adults in America 20 years and older have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Diabetes is a disorder of the body’s metabolism–the way the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat gets broken down into glucose which is a form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is one of the body’s main sources for fuel. After our bodies digest our food, glucose passes into the bloodstream where it is absorbed by cells for growth and energy. However, for glucose to get into the cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.
When we eat, our pancreas automatically creates the right amount of insulin in order to move glucose from blood into the cells. However, those suffering from diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin or the cells do not respond correctly to the insulin which is produced. Glucose then builds up within the blood and overflows into the urine. Thereby, the body loses its primary source of fuel.
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer produces insulin because the body’s own immune system has attacked and destroyed the pancreatic cells specialized to create the hormone. In type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the condition, muscle, liver and fat cells in the body do not use insulin properly. As a result, the body requires more insulin to help glucose enter the cells to be converted to energy. In time, the pancreas loses its ability to secrete enough insulin. Gestational diabetes is diabetes which first occurs during pregnancy. During pregnancy, many women require more insulin and many develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of their pregnancy.
How much of an impact does diabetes carry to the nation?
- In 2006, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among individuals with diabetes, about 68 percent die of heart disease or stroke. Overall, total health care and related costs for the treatment of diabetes run about $174 billion annually. Indirect costs including disability payments, time lost from work and reduced productivity totaled $58 billion. Direct medical costs for diabetes care, including hospitalizations, medical care and treatment supplies, totaled $116 billion.
When should I be checked for diabetes?
- You may ask your doctor at any time to be checked for diabetes. A physical examination may alert your doctor to abnormal blood pressure which may lead to further testing. People 45 years of age and older should consider getting tested for prediabetes or diabetes. Those younger than 45 who are overweight, obese or extremely obese should consider being tested for the condition. If you have a family history of diabetes, it is good measure to be tested.
The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) test measures blood glucose in an individual who has not eaten anything for at least eight full hours. This is the preferred and most common test in diagnosing diabetes because of its convenience and low cost.
An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures blood glucose after an individual fasts at least eight hours and two hours after the patient drinks a glucose-containing beverage.
A random plasma glucose test, also known as a casual plasma glucose test, measures blood glucose without regard to when the person being tested last ate. This test is often used with an assessment of symptoms for a proper diagnosis.
If you suspect you are at risk for diabetes or diabetes runs in your family, schedule an appointment with your doctor or health care professional in order to receive proper testing for diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of the islet cells within the pancreas. The body’s own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas which results in the pancreas then producing little or no insulin. Researchers believe that autoimmune, genetic and environmental factors are involved in the reasons why the body’s immune system attacks the body’s beta cells.
Type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance or the body’s inability to use insulin effectively. When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is typically producing enough insulin however the body does not absorb it properly and therefore cannot convert the glucose to energy. After several years, insulin production decreases. Glucose then builds up in the blood, in a manner similar to that of type 1 diabetes, and the body cannot make fuel or convert these nutrients to energy.
Gestational diabetes is caused by an influx of hormones which often accompanies a typical pregnancy. Pregnancy can also demand more insulin than the body is able to produce thereby creating a shortage causing diabetes.
Diabetes is not a contagious condition, therefore people cannot “catch” it from each other. However, certain factors do increase one’s risk of developing diabetes.
Ninety to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in adults are cases of type 2 diabetes. Only 5 percent of diagnosed cases are type 1, while 2 to 10 percent of cases are gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in whites than in nonwhites, although it does occur equally in both women and men. Type 1 diabetes is rare in most African, American Indian and Asian populations. This condition often develops in children but can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in older individuals, although that statistic is fast changing. It is often seen in overweight individuals and occurs most in African Americans, American Indians and some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics. Diabetes prevalence in the United States is likely to continue increasing for several reasons including the fact that as a nation, America is seeing much more obesity even in young individuals. According to recent estimates from the CDC, diabetes will affect one in three people born in 2000 in the United States. The CDC also predicts that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the United States will increase 165 percent by 2050.
Initial signs that the blood sugar is high can include:
- Being very thirsty
- Feeling hungry
- Fatigue
- Blurry eyesight
- Losing feeling or feeling tingling in your feet
- Losing weight without trying
- Frequent urination
Additional signs that the blood sugar is very high may include:
- Deep, rapid breathing
- Dry skin and mouth
- Flushed face
- Fruity breath odor
- Nausea or vomiting, inability to keep down fluids
- Stomach pain
These above symptoms may also be attributed to type 1 diabetes. Often, individuals with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at first. They may not experience symptoms for many years. Additional generic symptoms for diabetes may include:
- Bladder, kidney, skin or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain or numbness in feet or hands
Diabetes can seem troublesome and unfair. However, remember that the condition is manageable and it may be easier to stick to these new mandatory regimens with others participating as well.
Get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day if you can, even activities such as brisk walking can help your heart health. Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats, chicken or turkey without skin, dry peas or beans, whole grains and low-fat dairy products such as skim milk or cheese. Keep fish and lean meat to about 3 ounces (or the size of a deck of cards). Eat foods that have less fat and less salt or sodium. Eat foods with more fiber such as whole grain cereals and whole grain breads.
Try to stay at a healthy weight and stop smoking. Learn to cope with stress as stress can raise your blood glucose. Stress can be difficult to eliminate fully so you may wish to ask your doctor what you can do to more actively manage stress.
Take medication even when you are feeling good. Ask your doctor if you need aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Get into the habit of receiving routine and regular care.
Diabetes is a serious condition, no matter what type you have. It takes caution, commitment and vigilance in order to keep it properly regulated. Once you receive a diagnosis, make sure to speak to your doctor at length and get all of your questions answered. Find out what lifestyle and dietary changes will be needed in addition to insulin administration.
Incorporate those around you in your new lifestyle. This may make sticking to healthy regimens easier and longer lasting. These healthy proactive steps are necessary in order to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and other complications that can arise from diabetes.
Ask your doctor to show you how to administer insulin, and pay close attention. You will be solely responsible for regulating your insulin levels and you will need to fully understand how to do so in order to be successful and stay healthy.
Be cautionary with your new condition and keep your eyes open to any new symptoms which to alert your doctor about. Call your doctor right away if you notice sores which are not healing or going away.
Diabetes does not have a cure, however, the condition is manageable with proper medication and regulation. Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, everyone with type 1 diabetes died within a few years following their diagnosis. While insulin is not a cure, it is considered the first major breakthrough in diabetes treatment.
Insulin can be administered directly into body either by shot or injection, using an insulin pump, an insulin jet injector or an insulin infuser. Talk to your doctor about these options and work out a strategy that is easiest for you to incorporate into your daily regimen.
In modern day, a healthy diet, physical activity and the administration of insulin are the basic therapies for diabetes. Blood glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose checking.
Individuals with type 2 diabetes require one or more diabetes medications to control their insulin levels.
There are multiple medications for those suffering from diabetes. Diabetes medication helps not only to keep blood glucose levels in a target range but also helps to prevent further complications of the condition such as heart disease, heat attack, kidney disease, nerve damage, digestive problems, eye disease and tooth and gum problems
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (miglitol, acarbose) help to keep your blood glucose from going too high following a meal, a common problem for those with diabetes. It works by slowing down the digestion of foods which are high in carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes, bread, milk and fruit.
Metformin is the first choice diabetes medication recommended by The American Diabetes Association for those with type 2 diabetes. This medication lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver thereby preventing glucose levels from getting too high.
Starlix helps your body to make more insulin for a short period of time directly after eating. The insulin helps keep your blood glucose from going too high after eating. Prandin is a similar medication, making more insulin for a short period of time right after meals keeping glucose levels from rising too high after eating.
Januvia helps to lower your blood glucose by helping your body make more insulin when needed keeping your liver from putting stored glucose into your blood.
Sulfonylureas helps the body to create more insulin which helps lower your blood glucose.
Actos and Avandia are used for those with type 2 diabetes as they are designed to treat insulin resistance, the cause for type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means your body doesn’t use insulin properly and it is not absorbed effectively by the body’s cells.
Symlin is a medication which helps to keep your blood glucose from going too high after eating. It works by helping food move more slowly through your stomach keeping your liver from storing glucose. This medicine may prevent hunger helping you eat less and perhaps lose weight. Byetta helps your body make more insulin than is needed and functions in a way similar to symlin, slowing digestion and preventing glucose storage.
Managing diabetes is more than simply keeping blood glucose levels under control–it is also essential to manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels through healthy eating, physical activity and proper medication in order to lower risk for cardiovascular disease. At least 65 percent of those with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Aspirin therapy, if recommended by your doctor or health care professional, as well as quitting smoking, can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Those with diabetes must take responsibility and initiative for their day-to-day care. Much of their daily care involves keeping blood glucose levels from going too low or too high. You and your doctor should work together, or employ the assistance of a dietician, to design a meal plan for yourself in order to keep healthy and lower your risks of heart disease. You will need to begin to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. This will help keep weight down, help insulin work better and is good for your heart and lungs.