THE FACTS ON DIABETES
Diabetes affects more than 25.8 million children and adults in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org/.
Types of Diabetes:
Type 1 - This form of diabetes mainly surfaces in children and teenagers, but can occur at any age. This type of diabetes means your body does not produce insulin.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes
a. Frequent urination
b. Unusual thirst
c. Extreme hunger
d. Unusual weight loss
e. Extreme fatigue and irritability
Type 2 - This form of diabetes can occur at any age. This type of diabetes means either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
a. Any of the type one symptoms
b. Frequent infections
c. Blurred vision
d. Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
e. Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
f. Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
Diabetes can be a debilitating disease. You could have diabetes right now and not know it because sometimes there are no symptoms before initial diagnosis. That is why it is important to speak with your doctor and insist on a blood test called an a1c test, which will identify whether or not you have diabetes. This is especially important if you are in the following risk groups: African-American, Latinos, Native Americans, ans Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as Senior Citizens.
Diabetes is a progressive disease. If left untreated it can cause cardiovascular issues, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage and many more complications. It is vital that everyone get their blood checked for diabetes so you can begin treatment as soon as possible to avoid these complications.
There are things you can do if you are diagnosed with diabetes to improve your chances if not having the complications mentioned above. One thing is to begin eating a healthy diet and start exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Even just walking 30 minutes a day can make a difference. If you are overweight, diet and exercise is crucial to your diabetic health. Losing 10 or 20 pounds can be very beneficial in your quest to control your diabetes. Always speak with your doctor before starting any exercise plan.
Living with diabetes is not easy, but there is a lot you can do to improve your chances of living a long and healthy life. The first step is to see your doctor and get tested. The longer you wait, the more damage diabetes can be causing, and you may not realize the damage until it is too late.
To learn more about Diabetes visit www.diabetes.org/
Sources:
Pub Med Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/
American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/?loc=DropDownDB-type1
Credit for Photo:
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2125
Types of Diabetes:
Type 1 - This form of diabetes mainly surfaces in children and teenagers, but can occur at any age. This type of diabetes means your body does not produce insulin.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes
a. Frequent urination
b. Unusual thirst
c. Extreme hunger
d. Unusual weight loss
e. Extreme fatigue and irritability
Type 2 - This form of diabetes can occur at any age. This type of diabetes means either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
a. Any of the type one symptoms
b. Frequent infections
c. Blurred vision
d. Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
e. Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
f. Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
Diabetes can be a debilitating disease. You could have diabetes right now and not know it because sometimes there are no symptoms before initial diagnosis. That is why it is important to speak with your doctor and insist on a blood test called an a1c test, which will identify whether or not you have diabetes. This is especially important if you are in the following risk groups: African-American, Latinos, Native Americans, ans Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as Senior Citizens.
Diabetes is a progressive disease. If left untreated it can cause cardiovascular issues, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage and many more complications. It is vital that everyone get their blood checked for diabetes so you can begin treatment as soon as possible to avoid these complications.
There are things you can do if you are diagnosed with diabetes to improve your chances if not having the complications mentioned above. One thing is to begin eating a healthy diet and start exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Even just walking 30 minutes a day can make a difference. If you are overweight, diet and exercise is crucial to your diabetic health. Losing 10 or 20 pounds can be very beneficial in your quest to control your diabetes. Always speak with your doctor before starting any exercise plan.
Living with diabetes is not easy, but there is a lot you can do to improve your chances of living a long and healthy life. The first step is to see your doctor and get tested. The longer you wait, the more damage diabetes can be causing, and you may not realize the damage until it is too late.
To learn more about Diabetes visit www.diabetes.org/
Sources:
Pub Med Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/
American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/?loc=DropDownDB-type1
Credit for Photo:
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2125
