Some things you should know about diabetes

By: Vista Community Clinic - | Sunday, December 9, 2007 7:40 PM PST ∞

In the United States, 20.8 million people have diabetes ---- almost 7 percent of the population. One out of three children will develop diabetes in their lifetime, and every 21 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2005 diabetes fact sheet). But what is diabetes, how is it diagnosed, and what should you do to avoid becoming one of these statistics?

Diabetes is the inability of the body to make enough insulin to control the level of sugar in the blood. Insulin is a transport system for glucose (sugar). Without insulin, glucose is unable to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Glucose stays in the blood, where it causes damage to organs such as the eyes, kidneys, heart and nervous system.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1, sometimes called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes; and type 2, also called adult-onset diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the body attacks its own pancreas and kills the cells that produce insulin, something called auto-immune destruction. We are unsure why this happens. It is only partly related to heredity. Environmental factors such as viruses or allergies are thought to play a role in developing Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in people less than 30 years old. These people are not usually overweight.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when a person's pancreas is forced to work too hard. Over time, it gets tired and wears out. It is then unable to make enough insulin to transport the glucose from food that is eaten, and the person's blood sugar rises. This type of diabetes runs in families, which means there is a genetic predisposition. Being overweight and inactive also contributes to Type 2 diabetes. The illness is more common in American Indians, blacks, Latino and Asian/Pacific Islanders than among whites.

Some early signs of diabetes are constant thirst; frequent urination; urinary and vaginal infections; extreme fatigue; blurred vision. If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should tell your health-care provider. However, many people with diabetes do not have any early symptoms. Diabetes can be diagnosed by a simple test that checks the sugar in your blood. A normal result with fasting is 70 to 99 points. Less than 140 is normal non-fasting reading (taken after you've eaten).

The most important thing you can do to prevent or control diabetes is to make lifestyle changes. Exercise most days of the week. Cut down on fats and increase fruits and vegetables in your diet. If you drink regular sugared sodas, stop! If you are overweight, try to cut down on portions. Losing as little as 5 to 10 pounds can make a huge difference in your health.

If you already have diabetes, always be sure to stay on schedule with the medicines your doctor has prescribed. If you are able to control your blood sugar, it will help prevent or delay serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage.

Diabetes is on the rise in this country. Families that make small lifestyle changes together can do a lot to avoid the health problems that come with diabetes.

Teri Pitman is a physician's assistant with the Diabetes STEPS (Self-monitoring; Treatment; Education; Physical activity; Sensible eating) Program at Vista Community Clinic. Call (760) 631-5000 or visit www.vistacommunityclinic.org.