 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
|
|||||||
|
Q & A
1. What is Diabetes?
2. Who is at risk?
3. What are the symptoms of diabetes?
4. What are the two types of Diabetes?
5. Diabetes Risk Test.
6. Major Advances in Diabetes Care.
7. Online Diabetes Directory.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that affects more than sixteen million people in the
Your body gets the glucose from the food and drinks that you consume. The person with diabetes is unable to use glucose for energy. As a result, the glucose or sugar remains in the blood rather than being used for fuel.
The body hormone that lowers the blood level of glucose is insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. When you eat, insulin helps the body use the foods that provide energy. A person with diabetes makes little or no insulin or makes insulin but can't use it.
Who is at risk?
Diabetes is not contagious. People cannot "catch" it from each other. However, diabetes is more likely to occur in people who:
are over 45 years of age.
are overweight.
have a family history of diabetes.
have had diabetes during pregnancy.
have given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds.
have high blood pressure.
are African American.
are Hispanic American.
are Native American.
have a HDL less than 35 mg/dl
have a triglyceride level of 250 mg/dl or above.
These are risk factors for diabetes. Any member of your immediate family(mother, father, sister, brother, children) who has three or more of these risk factors should be tested for diabetes.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Increased Thirst
Frequent Urination
Extreme Hunger
Loss of Weight
Easily Tired
Slow Healing Wounds
Dry Itchy Skin
Blurred Vision
Numbness or Tingling in Hand
What are the two types of Diabetes?
Type 1
No one knows the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes, but the following may be contributing factors:
A history of Type 1 diabetes in the family.
Viruses that have injured the pancreas.
A problem with the body's defense system that has destroyed the insulin-making cells in the pancreas.
People with Type 1 produce no insulin and must take insulin shots daily.
Type 2
In Type 2 diabetes, the body may make insulin, but it either doesn't make enough or can't use the insulin it makes. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. At least 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. Although it can occur in younger people it most often begins when people are over 40 years of age and overweight. Treatment for Type 2 includes medication, diet and exercise.
Diabetes Risk Test
Could you have Diabetes and not know it?
Take this test. Know the score!
Statement about me
Points if true
My weight is equal to or above that listed in the chart below. 5
I am under 65 years of age and I get little or no exercise during a usual day. 5
I am between 45 and 64 years of age. 5
I am 65 years or older. 9
I am a woman who has a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth. 1
I have a sister or brother with diabetes. 1
I have a parent with diabetes. 1
At Risk Weight Chart
Women Men
Height Weight Height Weight
feet inches lbs feet inches lbs
4 9 134 5 1 157
4 10 137 5 2 160
4 11 140 5 3 162
5 0 143 5 4 165
5 1 146 5 5 168
5 2 150 5 6 172
5 3 154 5 7 175
5 4 157 5 8 179
5 5 161 5 9 182
5 6 164 5 10 186
5 7 168 5 11 190
5 8 172 6 0 194
5 9 175 6 1 199
5 10 178 6 2 203
5 11 182 6 3 209
If you scored 3-9 points you are probably at low risk for having diabetes now. But don't just forget about it-especially if you are Hispanic, African-American, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. You may be at higher risk in the future. New guidelines recommend that everyone age 45 and older consider being tested for the disease every three years. However, people at high risk should consider being tested more often and at a younger age.
If you scored 10 or more points you could be at high risk for diabetes. Only your health care professional can determine if you have diabetes.
Major Advances in Diabetes Care
In recent years, advances in diabetes research have led to better ways to manage diabetes and treat its complications. Major advances include:
New forms of purified insulin, such as human insulin produced through genetic engineering.
Better ways for doctors to monitor blood glucose levels and for people with diabetes to test their own blood glucose levels at home.
Development of external and implantable insulin pumps that deliver appropriate amounts of insulin, replacing daily injections.
Laser treatment for diabetic eye disease, reducing the risk of blindness.
Successful transplantation of kidneys in people whose own kidneys fail because of diabetes.
Better ways of managing diabetic pregnancies, improving chances of successful outcomes.
New drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes and better ways to manage this form of diabetes through weight control.
Evidence that intensive management of blood glucose reduces and may prevent development of microvascular complications of diabetes.
Demonstration that antihypertensive drugs called ACE-inhibitors prevent or delay kidney failure in people with diabetes.
Online Diabetes Directory
The number of medical resources now available on the Internet is truly overwhelming, and finding the information you want can be tricky and time-consuming. For every site that provides helpful and accurate information, scores more exist that aim only to sell useless products, publicize sketchy unproven information and treatments, or trade misinformation. This directory was developed as a guide to carefully selected diabetes resources so that you can find reliable information quickly and easily.
To be included in this directory, the Web sites had to meet certain criteria. The sites must provide useful information for people who have diabetes, and they must originate from credible sources such as government agencies, medical institutions, health-care professionals, people with diabetes (for support groups), and reputable health-care companies.
Illinois
Diabetes Control Program
American
Diabetes Association
Juvenile
Diabetes Foundation
Children
With Diabetes
Diabetes.Com
Diabetes
Mall
Diabetes
Well
Eli
Lilly's Education Program
Mediconsult.Com
Diabetes
Website
Voice of
the Diabetic
