- Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, or blood sugar.
The 2018 CDC report states that 34.2 million people of all ages, or 10.5% of the US population, had diabetes. 34.1 million of this population was 18 years or older. Adults, that were 65 years or older, represented the largest amount of people with diabetes at 26.8%.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes, or borderline diabetes is referred to as having a blood sugar that is usually in the range of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
Normal blood sugar levels are between 70 and 99 (mg/dl), but a person with diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar that’s higher than 126 (mg/dl).
Additional types of diabetes
Other major types of diabetes that can develop include type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes are insulin-dependent and have to take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.
Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. Even though the body is still making insulin under the Type 2 scenario, the cells in the body do not respond to the insulin. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, this is the most common type of diabetes and is linked to obesity.
During their pregnancy, women develop gestational diabetes, because the body can become less sensitive to insulin. However, it does not occur in all women and usually goes away after giving birth.
Some of the risk factors for pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes include, but are not limited to, being overweight, having a family history of diabetes and being over the age of 45.
Exercise and diet tips
If diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, it is recommended for a person to make a lifestyle change to support their weight loss and overall health.
In order to make sure the person gets the best care to manage the diabetes, or pre-diabetes, they should contact their doctor to determine the best care for them.
Using insulin
Part of managing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is injecting, or inhaling insulin to keep the blood sugar levels from becoming too high. In order to manage their diabetes and protect their health, the person needs to self-monitor their blood sugar levels.
Even though diabetes is manageable, it’s important to prevent the complications that can occur. Some of the major complications include, sight loss, heart disease, nerve damage, stroke and kidney disease.
Diabetes is a disease that, if managed properly, can give a person the ability to still live a productive lifestyle. Even though people can have different types of diabetes, they still need to take the necessary steps to keep it under control.
If you feel you may have diabetes, it is recommended to consult with your physician to make a proper diagnosis. To learn more about diabetes, you can research more at the American Diabetes Association at http://diabetes.org.