What is DiabetesThere are approximately 21 million people in the United States who have diabetes. How many people is that? If Diabetes were a state it would be the third largest state in terms of population. Only California (35 million) and Texas (22 million) have a larger population. The numbers are so staggering that public health experts believe diabetes will be the next great lifestyle
disease epidemic. And this is a trend that only seems to be gaining momentum, a study by doctors
from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently stated that the prevalence of diagnosed cases of diabetes had increased 33%
over the past eight years.
While an estimated 15 million have been diagnosed, 6 million people are not aware that they have the disease. Each day almost 5,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes. About 1.5 million people will be diagnosed this year. Do you know someone with diabetes? We are quickly approaching the day when we will all know a friend or family member that either has diabetes or are at risk of developing it. Now that you hopefully know the scope of the problem, let’s get to the facts. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Types of diabetes Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. To survive, people with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce it. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed in some women during pregnancy. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes requires treatment to normalize maternal blood glucose levels to avoid complications in the infant. After pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have type 2 diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20% to 50% chance of developing diabetes in the next 5–10 years. Other types of diabetes result from specific genetic conditions (such as maturity-onset diabetes of youth), surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses. These types of diabetes only account for 1% to 5% of all diagnosed cases. Complications related with having diabetes Heart disease and stroke • Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. • Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. • The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes. High blood pressure • About 73% of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or use prescription medications for hypertension. Blindness • Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20–74 years. • Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. Kidney disease • Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2002. • In 2002, 44,400 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage kidney disease in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. • In 2002, a total of 153,730 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Nervous system disease • About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems. • Almost 30% of people with diabetes aged 40 years or older have impaired sensation in the feet (i.e., at least one area that lacks feeling). • Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations. Amputations • More than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes. • In 2002, about 82,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes. Dental disease • Periodontal (gum) disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without diabetes. • Almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth measuring 5 millimeters or more. Complications of pregnancy • Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies. • Poorly controlled diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in excessively large babies, posing a risk to both mother and child. Other complications • Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar (nonketotic) coma. • People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses and, once they acquire these illnesses, often have worse prognoses. For example, they are more likely to die with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes.
Here are some important warning signs to look for: Future articles will deal with preventing, living with, and managing Diabetes.
|
