Adults make up the largest population of people with type 2 diabetes. They have insulin resistance, which means that their bodies don't use insulin properly. As a result, type 2 diabetics must change their lifestyle, watch what they eat, exercise and take their medication (if prescribed by a doctor) in order to control diabetes.
Who Is At Risk?
People who have or are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes:
* Are 55 or older
* Are African-American or Latino (the risk is twice as high as it is for White people)
* Have a close relative (parent, brother, or sister) who has diabetes
* Are overweight or don't exercise
* Have a history of high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol
However, children and young adults have been getting type 2 diabetes in the past few years because they consume a lot of fat and sugar and don't exercise enough. Healthy living is important in preventing diabetes in not only adults but in children, as well.
Symptoms of Type 2
Adults who develop type 2 diabetes may display the following symptoms:
* Overwhelming thirst that does not go away.
* Frequent and/or uncontrollable urination
* Fatigue
* Blurred vision
* Slow-healing infections
* Impotence in men
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, call a doctor. Diabetes can be treated, but it can also do damage to your body if the symptoms are ignored.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Type 1 Diabetes: Just the Facts
Once referred to as “juvenile diabetes,” type 1 affects mostly children and young adults. Their bodies make no insulin so they must take insulin shots.
Who Is At Risk?
Doctors aren't quite sure what may cause type 1 diabetes so there is no set of risk factors. Often parents of children with type 1 diabetes aren’t aware of the condition until the child gets sick. However, parents should be aware of the symptoms, so that they can see a doctor if they think their children may have the disease:
Symptoms of Type 1
Children who have type 1 diabetes show the following symptoms:
* Overwhelming thirst that does not go away.
* Frequent and/or uncontrollable urination
* Weight loss or weight gain
* Fatigue
* Nausea or vomiting
Type 1 diabetes can be treated. But, it can also do damage to the diabetic’s body if the symptoms are ignored. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Seek a health care provider's or a doctor's medical care if you or child is experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes.
Once referred to as “juvenile diabetes,” type 1 affects mostly children and young adults. Their bodies make no insulin so they must take insulin shots.
Who Is At Risk?
Doctors aren't quite sure what may cause type 1 diabetes so there is no set of risk factors. Often parents of children with type 1 diabetes aren’t aware of the condition until the child gets sick. However, parents should be aware of the symptoms, so that they can see a doctor if they think their children may have the disease:
Symptoms of Type 1
Children who have type 1 diabetes show the following symptoms:
* Overwhelming thirst that does not go away.
* Frequent and/or uncontrollable urination
* Weight loss or weight gain
* Fatigue
* Nausea or vomiting
Type 1 diabetes can be treated. But, it can also do damage to the diabetic’s body if the symptoms are ignored. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Seek a health care provider's or a doctor's medical care if you or child is experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes.
How to Manage diabetes
Diabetes: The Learning Zone
People with diabetes (like everyone else) must make their health a priority daily. The difference: Diabetics are reminded each day on the glucose meter why eating right, exercising and staying health-focused are the keys to overall health. If you or someone you know has made the smart decision to live a healthy life with diabetes, the Learning Zone will increase your knowledge about the disease and help you start your journey toward wellness.
Step 1: Learn About Diabetes
It’s important to know as much as you can about diabetes, so that you can manage this disease well. Here’s what you need to know and do:
What Is Diabetes?
Some folks may still call diabetes “sugar.” But, there’s nothing sweet about being diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is a life-changing health condition that is a daily reality in the lives of nearly 24 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simply put, a diabetic’s body doesn’t make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes effectively.
For example, food is broken down into glucose (or sugar), which travels through the blood, moves into the cells and turns into fuel for your body. In people with diabetes, the glucose can't move into the cells. This raises their blood glucose levels, which can cause such symptoms as blurry vision, thirstiness, and weakness. Left unchecked, high-glucose levels can lead to various forms of diabetes, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Is it a death sentence? It doesn’t have to be. Will it alter the way you live day-to-day? Yes. As a person with diabetes, you’ll have to learn how to check your blood sugar level and more than likely, you’ll need insulin shots or pills each day to control sudden highs (hyperglycemia) and sudden lows (hypoglycemia). You may also require other medicines to take care of related health conditions.
But, by making healthful food choices, exercising regularly and taking your medication properly, those with diabetes can potentially decrease their need for meds and live full, productive lives.
Left unmanaged, diabetes can bring on complications such as heart disease, problematic vision, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage and loss of limbs. That’s why it’s critical to manage this disease. This "Manage Your Diabetes" tool is here to help you.
People with diabetes (like everyone else) must make their health a priority daily. The difference: Diabetics are reminded each day on the glucose meter why eating right, exercising and staying health-focused are the keys to overall health. If you or someone you know has made the smart decision to live a healthy life with diabetes, the Learning Zone will increase your knowledge about the disease and help you start your journey toward wellness.
Step 1: Learn About Diabetes
It’s important to know as much as you can about diabetes, so that you can manage this disease well. Here’s what you need to know and do:
What Is Diabetes?
Some folks may still call diabetes “sugar.” But, there’s nothing sweet about being diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is a life-changing health condition that is a daily reality in the lives of nearly 24 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simply put, a diabetic’s body doesn’t make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes effectively.
For example, food is broken down into glucose (or sugar), which travels through the blood, moves into the cells and turns into fuel for your body. In people with diabetes, the glucose can't move into the cells. This raises their blood glucose levels, which can cause such symptoms as blurry vision, thirstiness, and weakness. Left unchecked, high-glucose levels can lead to various forms of diabetes, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Is it a death sentence? It doesn’t have to be. Will it alter the way you live day-to-day? Yes. As a person with diabetes, you’ll have to learn how to check your blood sugar level and more than likely, you’ll need insulin shots or pills each day to control sudden highs (hyperglycemia) and sudden lows (hypoglycemia). You may also require other medicines to take care of related health conditions.
But, by making healthful food choices, exercising regularly and taking your medication properly, those with diabetes can potentially decrease their need for meds and live full, productive lives.
Left unmanaged, diabetes can bring on complications such as heart disease, problematic vision, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage and loss of limbs. That’s why it’s critical to manage this disease. This "Manage Your Diabetes" tool is here to help you.
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