Diabetes

Diabetes – Do you live with this disease?

Over 20.8 million people (7% of the population) have diabetes in the United States. Many them don’t even know they have diabetes or are considered diabetic. American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanic or Latino Americans are considered high risk groups but, they are not exclusive. In recent years, children and adolescents have been diagnosed with diabetes more frequently. This is due in part to poor diet and lack of exercise. Couple this with race, family history, obesity, and you have the elements that develop the disease we know as diabetes.

What cause diabetes?

Some of us may have heard the term “Sugar” used in describing what is medically known as diabetes. This reference is not totally without fact. Food is broken down into the vitamins and nutrients needed for energy. Sugar or Glucose is a source of energy for the cells of the body. The sugar (glucose) must leave the blood stream and enter the cells to provide energy for the body. Insulin is the vehicle that is needed for glucose to enter the cells. Diabetes occurs when sugar (glucose) is unable to enter the body cells due to a problem with insulin. The type of diabetes is determined based on whether your body is able to produce enough insulin or whether insulin is produced at all.

Diabetic tips
Examine your body regularly for sores, especially your feet
Avoid walking bare foot outdoors
Alternate insulin injection sites

More on diabetes:

• Preventing and treating diabetes
• Signs and symptoms of diabetes
• Types of diabetes