Diabetes

• What are the scope and impact of diabetes
  Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In 2002, it was the sixth leading cause of death. However, diabetes is likely to be underreported
  
  
• Types of Diabetes
  The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
  
  
• Diabetes - A Leading Cause of Death in America
  In the last 15 years, the number of people in the United States with diagnosed diabetes has more than doubled, reaching 14.6 million in 2005. Although more than 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, 6.2 million do not know they have the disease.
  
  
• The Reality
  Over 18.2 million Americans have diabetes, and about one-third of them don’t know that they have the disease.
  
  
• Who gets diabetes
  Diabetes is not contagious. People cannot “catch” it from each other. However, certain factors can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
  
  
• Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
  What are diabetes problems? Too much glucose (sugar) in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose (also called blood sugar) can damage many parts of the body,
  
  
• Low Blood Glucose
  Low blood glucose can make you feel shaky, weak, confused, irritable, hungry, or tired. You may sweat a lot or get a headache. If you have these symptoms, check your blood glucose. If it is 70 or lower, have one of the following right away
  
  
• Eating and Diabetes
  You can take good care of yourself and your diabetes by learning what to eat, how much to eat, when to eat...
  
  
• Gestational Diabetes
  Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby, women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.
  
  
• Type 1 Diabetes
  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas
  
  
• Points to Remember
  Diabetes and pre-diabetes are diagnosed by checking blood glucose levels....
  
  
• How are diabetes and pre-diabetes diagnosed
  A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. This test is used to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes....
  
  
• What is pre-diabetes
  In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be characterized as diabetes. However, many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Pre-diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke
  
  
• What does having pre-diabetes mean
  Pre-diabetes means your blood glucose is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range. It also means you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
  
  
• Should I be tested for diabetes
  Anyone 45 years old or older should consider getting tested for diabetes
  
  
• Preventing Diabetes Complications
  Regular eye exams and timely treatment could prevent up to 90% of diabetes-related blindness
  
  
• Diabetes Is Preventable and Controllable
  The increasing burden of diabetes and its complications is alarming. However, much of this burden could be prevented with early detection, improved delivery of care, and better education on diabetes self-management.