Diabetes Facts
All About Diabetes
Diabetes facts, figures and statistics all show an alarming pattern: Diabetes is on the increase in nearly every social and age group in the United States.
• If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for other diseases as well. Diabetes is a complicating factor in heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness and kidney disease. It can also be a contributing factor in some nervous system diseases, dental disease, sexual dysfunction and problems during pregnancies.
• Diabetes is the fifth most deadly disease in the United States, and since the year 1987, deaths due to diabetes have increased forty-five percent, while deaths from cancer, stroke and heart disease have shown a decline.
• Type 1 diabetes facts show that this disease generally begins in childhood, and if you suffer from type 1 diabetes, you will probably need to take insulin your entire life. Unlike type 2 diabetes, there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes affects roughly ninety to ninety-five percent of all diabetics. It usually begins when the cells in the body do not use insulin correctly. Type 2 is the type of diabetes associated with older age, a family history of the disease, obesity and physical inactivity. Diabetes facts are emerging that suggest this form is being more often diagnosed in children of late, although not nearly to the extent that type 1 diabetes is.
• Gestational diabetes is a form of the disease which is diagnosed in women who are pregnant. It requires treatment during the pregnancy to regulate the blood glucose levels of the mother.
• If you have diabetes, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the disease and the limitations it may place on you. But with current treatments available, it is possible to overcome those feelings, and to live as normal a life as you can.
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that a cure is elusive, but that you shouldn't lose hope if you suffer from diabetes. Facts about the disease and who is most likely to suffer from it, as well as information gleaned from research, points to a time when diabetes will, at least, be a disease that is easier to live with.
• Tips to help you: If you travel and are worried about situations you may encounter, the ADA offers tips to help keep you safe on your vacation:
• Wear sturdy, close-fitting shoes, and use a sunblock of at least 15 to 30 SPF to protect your skin. If you travel by car or plane, make sure you get up and stretch whenever you can. This will help your circulation. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration complications, and use fresh foods for cooking, whenever you can. Avoid processed foods that may be higher in salt and fat.
• If you suffer from diabetes, facts are a weapon you can arm yourself with, to help live a more normal life.