November is Diabetes Awareness Month and I think it's important for people to learn more about how many people are affected by this disease.
According to the American Diabetes Association almost 26 million children and adults are currently living with diabetes.
A staggering 79 million more are pre-diabetic and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. That is three times more people that are on their way to developing it during their lifetime.
Diabetes, which is caused by hyperglycemia, is literally high blood sugar levels in the blood vessels all of the time. Normally our blood sugar levels are high only after meals because the blood sugar increases from the meal and then it goes into the cells to be used as energy by the cells.
When the blood sugar levels are high all of the time they can cause several symptoms such as constant hunger, frequent urination and excessive thirst. It can also cause fatigue, blurry vision, weight gain or weight loss.
Type 2 diabetes develops slowly and as a result these symptoms may show up so slowly over time that a person may not realize it is developing.
People that have diabetes and are unaware it or do not control their blood sugar levels well can experience very serious and debilitating complications.
You can have eye problems, difficulty seeing at night, and end up in the final stages blindness. Your feet or skin can develop nasty infections that might lead to amputations.
The high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves causing pain, tingling or loss of feeling in the nerves. The nerve damage can affect digestion, cause difficulty urinating and for men, problems with erections.
There are actually two types of diabetes.
Type 1 occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough or any insulin and as a result the patient has to take insulin shots to control their insulin.
Type 2 diabetes, which make up the majority of cases diagnosed, occurs when the cells of the body become resistant to insulin, and glucose stays in the bloodstream instead of passing to the cells.
Type 2 diabetes used to be called "adult onset diabetes". However because of the high rates of overweight and obesity rates at younger ages, children and young adults are being diagnosed with diabetes and pre-diabetes in higher numbers every year.
The development of type 2 diabetes has been heavily correlated with lifestyle behaviors, specifically diet and exercise. In my book, "Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living," I have a section that gives ideas about how to eat to manage your blood sugar levels.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased at www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Dr. Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who maintains a holistic practice by treating patients all over the country using Skype and phone visits. She helps her patients harvest health and feel great using a combination of safe and effective naturopathic and conventional methods.
Sources:
"American Diabetes Month® - American Diabetes Association." American Diabetes Association Home Page - American Diabetes Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.
http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/american-diabetes-month
"Diabetes - PubMed Health." National Center for Biotechnology Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194
Reviewed November 8, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith