Also called: Adult onset Diabetes, Non-Insulin dependent diabetes, “Sugar”
Diabetes Defined
If you have diabetes, your body cannot make or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the sugar, or glucose, in your blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for your body.
When you have diabetes, the levels of blood glucose are too high. High blood glucose can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, frequent urination, increased thirst, unintended weight loss, slow healing sores, and feelings of hunger and tiredness. However, some people with diabetes do not have symptoms.
Diabetes is a serious disease. Over time, diabetes that is not well controlled causes serious damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
About 18.2 million Americans, or 6.2 percent of the population, have diabetes. Thirteen million people have diagnosed diabetes, while an estimated 5.2 million people are undiagnosed. More than 8 million people 60 years or older have diabetes. This figure represents 18.3 percent of that age group.
About 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children, teenagers, or adults under age 30. In people with type 1 diabetes, the body can no longer produce insulin.
About 90 percent of people in the United States with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It is most common in adults over age 40, and the risk of getting type 2 diabetes increases with age. With this form of diabetes, the body does not always produce enough insulin or does not use insulin efficiently. Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is also more common in people with a family history of diabetes and in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Asian and Pacific Islanders.
Some women develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care. Much of the daily care involves keeping blood glucose levels from going too high or too low. About two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart disease, so it is also important to control blood pressure and Cholesterol. This may require taking medications prescribed by a doctor.
When blood glucose levels drop too low, a condition known as hypoglycemia, a person can become nervous, shaky, and confused. Judgment can be impaired. If blood glucose falls too low, a person can faint.
A person can also become ill if blood glucose levels rise too high, a condition known as hyperglycemia. Diabetics may go into a Coma if their blood sugar levels rise too high.
Strict control of blood glucose as well as blood pressure and cholesterol is the best defense against the serious complications of diabetes. People who take steps to control their diabetes can make a big difference in their health. If you have diabetes, stick to a diet plan, monitor your blood sugar, Exercise regularly, take prescribed medication, and make healthy lifestyle choices.
