Diabetes

  
 
  Check out our articles on home improvement, mental  and financial health, going green, health and lifestyles, and education.
  
   

 

diabetes and obesity are on the rise in AmericaThe number of Americans with diabetes could triple by 2050, according to the Centers for Disease Control. One in 10 U.S. adults has the disease now but could grow to 1 in 3 in the next 40 years. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for about $170 billion in health care costs. The disease presents serious threats to health during a lifetime, including increased risk of heart attack, kidney failure, blindness and many other complications.

Diabetes affects the body's ability to use blood sugar for energy. Diabetes, the most common disorder of the endocrine (hormone) system, occurs when blood sugar levels in the body consistently stay above normal.

In the U.S., 57 million people over age 20 have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. This is known as pre-diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance. While people with pre-diabetes usually have no symptoms, it’s almost always present before a person develops type 2 diabetes. However, complications normally associated with diabetes, such as heart disease, can begin to develop even when a person has only pre-diabetes.

There are three major types of diabetes:

  • Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Most patients are diagnosed when they are younger than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role.

  • Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise.

  • Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting almost 18 million Americans. While most of these cases can be prevented, it remains for adults the leading cause of diabetes-related complications such as blindness, non-traumatic amputations, and chronic kidney failure requiring dialysis. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people over age 40 who are overweight, but it can occur in people who are not overweight. Sometimes referred to as "adult-onset diabetes," type 2 diabetes has started to appear more often in children because of the rise in obesity in young people.

Some people can manage their type 2 diabetes by controlling their weight, watching their diet, and exercising regularly. Others may also need to take a diabetes pill that helps their body use insulin better, or take insulin injections.

You can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle. Change your diet, increase your level of physical activity, maintain a healthy weight...with these positive steps, you can stay healthier longer and reduce your risk of diabetes. Exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone, and it's especially important for people with diabetes. But exercise doesn't necessarily mean running a marathon or bench-pressing 300 pounds. The goal is to get active and stay active by doing things you enjoy, from gardening to playing tennis to walking with friends. 

There are some things that affect your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke that you can't change. But being aware of them can help you take smart steps to lower your risk. CheckUp America is an American Diabetes Association program working to help people lower their risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

 

Innovative Improvements is dedicated to providing  quality information for improving all aspects of everyday life.

 

Advertise with Us        Website created by Website Creations     Privacy Disclaimer