WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

TYPES OF DIABETES

There are three basic types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes – destroys the insulin producing cells in the panaceas.
• Type 2 diabetes – causes the body to become insensitive to insulin and the cells of the body can no longer use insulin.
• Gestational diabetes – is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Risk factors are things that increase your chances of getting a disease or condition. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with the number of risk factors such as:

• Over age 45
• African American descent (as well as Native Americans, Latinos, and Asians)
• Parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
• Diabetes during pregnancy
• History of having a baby weighing over 9 lbs.
• High blood pressure
• Physical Inactivity
• Overweight or obesity
• High cholesterol
• High triglycerides

Many of the symptoms of diabetes go ignored, but if symptoms are detected early, treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes. Some symptoms of diabetes are:

• Frequent urination
• Increased fatigue
• Excessive thirst
• Irritability
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
• Unusual weight loss

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
In the OGTT test, a person’s blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

RECENTLY DIAGNOSED?

Think you have diabetes? The NMA Diabetes Education Program recommends seeing your doctor as soon a possible! To help learn more about living with diabetes or caring for someone with diabetes, visit the “Recently Diagnosed” section of the American Diabetes Association website.