What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin or for the body to use the insulin produced in the proper way.

The body's digestive system converts food into glucose (a common sugar) that cells need to produce energy. Insulin is the key that opens the door in the cells to let glucose into the cells. The pancreas is the organ in the body that supplies the bloodstream with insulin.

When there is not enough insulin in the bloodstream to balance the glucose in the body, two things happen: (1) the body is starved of energy, and (2) excess glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream will damage body organs.

This disease has two major classes: type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes - Also called Juvenile Onset or Insulin Dependent Diabetes, results when the pancreas does not produce insulin. The body’s immune system attacks the pancreas's insulin-producing cells (Beta cells). This disease often occurs during childhood or adolescence. Approximately 5% of all diabetic cases are type 1.

Type 2 Diabetes - Also called Adult Onset or Insulin Non-Dependent Diabetes, results when the pancreas produces a little or reduced amount of insulin. or the cells do not respond to insulin (insulin resistive). Approximately 90% of all diabetic cases are type 2.

Fast Facts on Diabetes

Diabetes

• Total: 38.4 million people have diabetes (11.6% of the US population)*

• Diagnosed: 29.7 million people, including 29.4 million adults

• Undiagnosed: 8.7 million people (22.8% of adults are undiagnosed)
  * This compares with 17% of Blacks

Prediabetes

• Total: 97.6 million people aged 18 years or older have prediabetes (38.0% of the adult US population)

• 65 years or older: 27.2 million people aged 65 years or older (48.8%) have prediabetes

How to Reverse the Impact of Diabetes

Lifestyle changes can lead to measurable improvement for sufferers of pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes. By incorporating the eight principles of a longer life, emphasizing routine exercise and a healthy diet, pre-diabetes and type 1 diabetes can be reversed.

Determine Your Risk Of Being Or Becoming Diabetic

Many people are walking around with diabetes or pre-diabetes without a clue. There are factors that determine a person's predisposition to having diabetes.

Determine Your Risks Now!

These lifestyle changes will also benefit those with type 1 diabetes. While lifestyle changes cannot cure type 1 diabetes, they can help individuals with the condition lead healthier lives, reduce the risk of complications, and improve overall quality of life. It's important for individuals with type 1 diabetes to work closely with their healthcare team to develop a personalized management plan that addresses their unique needs and circumstances.

Never reduce or stop taking your diabetes medication(s) without first consulting with your doctor.

How Blood Sugar Level Is Tested

Physicians and healthcare providers rely on a series of blood tests to determine the level of sugar present in the blood. There are three widely used tests to measure blood sugar levels, they include:

• Fasting blood glucose test: For this test, you don’t eat or drink anything except water (fast) for at least eight hours before the test. As food can greatly affect blood sugar, this test allows your provider to see your baseline blood sugar.

• Random blood glucose test: “Random” means that you can get this test at any time, regardless of if you’ve fasted.

• A1c: This test, also called HbA1C or glycated hemoglobin test, provides your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.

Medical Risks Of Uncontrolled Diabetes

Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have
diabetes — and the less controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. In fact, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes. Possible complications include:

• Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Diabetes majorly increases the risk of many heart problems. These can include coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). If you have diabetes, you're more likely to have heart disease or stroke.

• Nerve damage from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Too much sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
  Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.

• Kidney damage from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy). The kidneys hold millions of tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from the blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system.

• Eye damage from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the eye. This could lead to blindness.

• Foot damage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of many foot complications.

• Skin and mouth conditions. Diabetes may leave you more prone to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.

• Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.

• Alzheimer's disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Depression related to diabetes. Depression symptoms are common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

-Mayo Clinic-