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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. 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.
How do you know if you have Diabetes?
Family history and medical tests are the main ways to find out. If a first degree member (father, mother, sister or brother) of the family has diabetes, there may be a good chance that you could also acquire the disease. However, further testing such as Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) which can be done at your doctor's office and can be used to confirm the condition. Symptoms such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, fatigue, irritability and blurry vision may also be some indicators that may require a check up to rule out diabetes.
Why is it important to manage Diabetes?
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people are unaware that they have the disease. This is because diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of
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its symptoms seem so harmless. Good management or early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing life threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness amongst others. Also proper diet and exercise habits may help in preventing and controlling diabetes.
What are the types of Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is usually seen in children and normally acquired from birth.
Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance, which is a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin, and combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women. It is usually detected during pregnancy and may resolve afterwards.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
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Myths about Diabetes
You can catch diabetes from someone else.
No. Although we don't know exactly why some people develop diabetes, diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.
People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.
If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.
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