Archive for the 'Non Fiction' Category
Diabetes: Do You Know If You Have It?
Adrian Adams asked:
Nearly 7% of Americans have some type of diabetes. Unfortunately, nearly one third of those people are unaware they suffer from it. When a person has diabetes, their body is unable to use the glucose that is in the food they eat.
Diabetes is a very serious illness that, if left untreated, can have adverse affects on a person’s nerves, eyes, heart and kidneys. Since the body is unable to use the glucose, it gathers in the bloodstream, which can then cause damage to the various parts of the body.
There are various symptoms that can indicate a person has diabetes. The most common symptom is excessive thirst. Another common symptom is going to the bathroom more than normal. Feeling very hungry, losing weight without dieting, feeling extremely tired, sores that seem to heal extremely slow, dry itchy skin, tingling in hands or feet or losing feeling in your feet, along with sexual dysfunction and blurred vision are also symptoms associated with diabetes.
Diabetes is broken down into three basic categories, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects between 5%-10% of the people who have diabetes. Although this type of diabetes is most often found in children, people of any age can be diagnosed with it. It is also considered to be hereditary. Most commonly, type 1 diabetes is found in people who are of average weight or who are on the thin side. Type 1 diabetes is classified by the body’s inability to produce insulin. The body’s own immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body is able to produce insulin, but the body either cannot properly use the insulin or it does not make enough. Approximately 90% of those with diabetes have type 2. Normally, type 2 diabetes develops after 40 years of age. However, it, too, can develop in people of any age. Even young children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Often, people are able to control their type 2 diabetes through the use of proper diet, exercise and/or pills. Following a strict regimen allows people to keep their blood sugar levels under control.
The final category of diabetes is gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs in women who are pregnant. Normally, it will go away after the woman delivers the baby. Less than 15% of pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. Most women are tested between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy for diabetes. Gestational diabetes needs to be treated to prevent complications for both the mother and the baby.
Pregnant women are at a higher risk of diabetes if they have a family history of diabetes. They are also at a higher risk if they are overweight, have given birth to a large baby, had a stillbirth, have had a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes or are over the age of 35. Although gestational diabetes is generally treatable through diet and exercise, on occasion, insulin therapy is sometimes needed.
Anyone can be affected by diabetes. But, thankfully, diabetes is treatable and in some cases, curable. If you think you could have diabetes, it is important to consult your doctor right away. Early detection is essential in preventing damage to your body.
Posted in Non Fiction | No comments
Nearly 7% of Americans have some type of diabetes. Unfortunately, nearly one third of those people are unaware they suffer from it. When a person has diabetes, their body is unable to use the glucose that is in the food they eat.
Diabetes is a very serious illness that, if left untreated, can have adverse affects on a person’s nerves, eyes, heart and kidneys. Since the body is unable to use the glucose, it gathers in the bloodstream, which can then cause damage to the various parts of the body.
There are various symptoms that can indicate a person has diabetes. The most common symptom is excessive thirst. Another common symptom is going to the bathroom more than normal. Feeling very hungry, losing weight without dieting, feeling extremely tired, sores that seem to heal extremely slow, dry itchy skin, tingling in hands or feet or losing feeling in your feet, along with sexual dysfunction and blurred vision are also symptoms associated with diabetes.
Diabetes is broken down into three basic categories, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects between 5%-10% of the people who have diabetes. Although this type of diabetes is most often found in children, people of any age can be diagnosed with it. It is also considered to be hereditary. Most commonly, type 1 diabetes is found in people who are of average weight or who are on the thin side. Type 1 diabetes is classified by the body’s inability to produce insulin. The body’s own immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body is able to produce insulin, but the body either cannot properly use the insulin or it does not make enough. Approximately 90% of those with diabetes have type 2. Normally, type 2 diabetes develops after 40 years of age. However, it, too, can develop in people of any age. Even young children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Often, people are able to control their type 2 diabetes through the use of proper diet, exercise and/or pills. Following a strict regimen allows people to keep their blood sugar levels under control.
The final category of diabetes is gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs in women who are pregnant. Normally, it will go away after the woman delivers the baby. Less than 15% of pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. Most women are tested between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy for diabetes. Gestational diabetes needs to be treated to prevent complications for both the mother and the baby.
Pregnant women are at a higher risk of diabetes if they have a family history of diabetes. They are also at a higher risk if they are overweight, have given birth to a large baby, had a stillbirth, have had a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes or are over the age of 35. Although gestational diabetes is generally treatable through diet and exercise, on occasion, insulin therapy is sometimes needed.
Anyone can be affected by diabetes. But, thankfully, diabetes is treatable and in some cases, curable. If you think you could have diabetes, it is important to consult your doctor right away. Early detection is essential in preventing damage to your body.
A Simple Diabetes For Dummy Overview
Terry Edwards asked:
Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it.
Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.
How do people get diabetes?
When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.
Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.
What types of diabetes are there?
Type 1 Diabetes – This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.
Type 2 Diabetes – This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.
Gestational Diabetes – This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.
Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.
Pre-Diabetes – This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.
As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.
There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.
Posted in Non Fiction | No comments
Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it.
Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.
How do people get diabetes?
When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.
Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.
What types of diabetes are there?
Type 1 Diabetes – This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.
Type 2 Diabetes – This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.
Gestational Diabetes – This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.
Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.
Pre-Diabetes – This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.
As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.
There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.
Diabetic Symptoms - What Are Its Signs, Diagnosis And How Can You Prevent It?
Dean Shainin asked:
The onset of diabetes symptoms is varied, depending on its particular type. Most Type 2 diabetes cases have a slow onset, taking years before the signs start to appear. However, in Type 1 cases, particularly in children, the symptoms may appear rapidly, taking only months or even weeks.
The most obvious signs of diabetes include the following:
• Frequent thirst (polydipsia)
• Constant urination (polyuria)
• Rapid loss of weight
• Unusual hunger
• Obvious weakness and fatigue
How is it Diagnosed?
There are many methods by which diabetes is diagnosed, but doctors commonly use the following approaches:
• Health screening
• Detection of hyperglycemia
• New signs and symptoms attributable to diabetes
Diagnosis is often prompted with the onset of the symptoms. Patients often undergo a diabetes screening test, the particulars of which often vary according to circumstances and local policy. Some may be made to undergo random glucose testing, fasting glucose and insulin, or glucose two hours after 75g of glucose. Sometimes, doctors diagnose the disease through a formal glucose tolerance test.
For adults aged 40-50, health caregivers recognize universal screening tests for diabetes with earlier screening tests for those with potential risk factors, such as obesity, family history of diabetes, and high risk ethnicity (Hispanic, American Indian, African, American, Pacific Island, and South Asian).
What are the Risk Factors?
There are many risk factors that, when combined, could increase the probability scale in developing diabetes. However, the real cause of the disease remains unknown. Below are a few of the most common risk factors associated with diabetes:
• Obesity - One of the strongest risk factors identified for diabetes is being overweight. Most cases of Type 2 diabetes have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is greater than the normal 25, which led scientists to conclude that weight plays a significant role in preventing the onset of the symptoms.
• Waist Size - Another factor that is somewhat related to obesity is waist size. In fact, research shows that waistline may be a better predicator of diabetes risk. People who have the so-called “apple-shaped” figure (much of their weight is in the waist and upper abdomen) are more likely to develop diabetes than persons with larger hips, buttocks, and thighs (or the “pear-shaped” figure).
• Sedentary Lifestyle - Exercise correlates with weight and waist circumference. As such, lack of adequate exercise is also a risk factor for diabetes.
• Age - Although some types of diabetes occur even in children, the risk for diabetes increases as the person’s age also increases. The average age of persons diagnosed with diabetes is 40 years.
• Background - This includes family history and ethnic background. Scientists have yet to discover a direct hereditary pattern for diabetes, but several studies show that you have a greater risk of developing the disease if you have a family member diagnosed with diabetes. As for ethnicity, diabetes is found to be more common among African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
How Can You Prevent it?
Knowing what are the risk factors involved in diabetes is already the first step to its prevention. However, knowing is different from doing. You may know a lot about the disease now but if you do not use this new knowledge you garnered in order to protect yourself from the ravages of diabetes, then that knowledge is useless. Now, therefore, is the time for you to take action - do something.
The good news is that the most common type of diabetes, Type 2, is easily manageable by maintaining a proper diet and exercising regularly. The Diabetes Prevention Program, a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, has just been completed and the findings showed that people with pre-diabetes (those that exhibit the risk factors as well as increased blood sugar levels in the blood but without the actual onset of the disease) can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes through diet change and exercise. Proponents say that the patients’ blood glucose levels may even return to normal as a result of proper diet and regular exercise.
The study also showed that medications can significantly delay the development of diabetes. However, diet and exercise worked better in preventing the full onset of the symptoms.
The American Diabetes Association recommends 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a five to ten percent reduction in body weight.
Posted in Non Fiction | No comments
The onset of diabetes symptoms is varied, depending on its particular type. Most Type 2 diabetes cases have a slow onset, taking years before the signs start to appear. However, in Type 1 cases, particularly in children, the symptoms may appear rapidly, taking only months or even weeks.
The most obvious signs of diabetes include the following:
• Frequent thirst (polydipsia)
• Constant urination (polyuria)
• Rapid loss of weight
• Unusual hunger
• Obvious weakness and fatigue
How is it Diagnosed?
There are many methods by which diabetes is diagnosed, but doctors commonly use the following approaches:
• Health screening
• Detection of hyperglycemia
• New signs and symptoms attributable to diabetes
Diagnosis is often prompted with the onset of the symptoms. Patients often undergo a diabetes screening test, the particulars of which often vary according to circumstances and local policy. Some may be made to undergo random glucose testing, fasting glucose and insulin, or glucose two hours after 75g of glucose. Sometimes, doctors diagnose the disease through a formal glucose tolerance test.
For adults aged 40-50, health caregivers recognize universal screening tests for diabetes with earlier screening tests for those with potential risk factors, such as obesity, family history of diabetes, and high risk ethnicity (Hispanic, American Indian, African, American, Pacific Island, and South Asian).
What are the Risk Factors?
There are many risk factors that, when combined, could increase the probability scale in developing diabetes. However, the real cause of the disease remains unknown. Below are a few of the most common risk factors associated with diabetes:
• Obesity - One of the strongest risk factors identified for diabetes is being overweight. Most cases of Type 2 diabetes have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is greater than the normal 25, which led scientists to conclude that weight plays a significant role in preventing the onset of the symptoms.
• Waist Size - Another factor that is somewhat related to obesity is waist size. In fact, research shows that waistline may be a better predicator of diabetes risk. People who have the so-called “apple-shaped” figure (much of their weight is in the waist and upper abdomen) are more likely to develop diabetes than persons with larger hips, buttocks, and thighs (or the “pear-shaped” figure).
• Sedentary Lifestyle - Exercise correlates with weight and waist circumference. As such, lack of adequate exercise is also a risk factor for diabetes.
• Age - Although some types of diabetes occur even in children, the risk for diabetes increases as the person’s age also increases. The average age of persons diagnosed with diabetes is 40 years.
• Background - This includes family history and ethnic background. Scientists have yet to discover a direct hereditary pattern for diabetes, but several studies show that you have a greater risk of developing the disease if you have a family member diagnosed with diabetes. As for ethnicity, diabetes is found to be more common among African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
How Can You Prevent it?
Knowing what are the risk factors involved in diabetes is already the first step to its prevention. However, knowing is different from doing. You may know a lot about the disease now but if you do not use this new knowledge you garnered in order to protect yourself from the ravages of diabetes, then that knowledge is useless. Now, therefore, is the time for you to take action - do something.
The good news is that the most common type of diabetes, Type 2, is easily manageable by maintaining a proper diet and exercising regularly. The Diabetes Prevention Program, a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, has just been completed and the findings showed that people with pre-diabetes (those that exhibit the risk factors as well as increased blood sugar levels in the blood but without the actual onset of the disease) can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes through diet change and exercise. Proponents say that the patients’ blood glucose levels may even return to normal as a result of proper diet and regular exercise.
The study also showed that medications can significantly delay the development of diabetes. However, diet and exercise worked better in preventing the full onset of the symptoms.
The American Diabetes Association recommends 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a five to ten percent reduction in body weight.
How To Delay Or Avoid Type 2 Diabetes
Kevin Sinclair asked:
Diabetes is a disease caused by the inability of the body to properly produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body convert food to energy. In type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin at all. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood. In type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin or it produces insulin which is ineffective in regulating the body’s blood sugar levels. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed later in life and is commonly called adult onset diabetes.
Diabetes is an important health concern because incidence of the disease worldwide is increasing. It is also associated with other health risks and is expensive to treat and control. Also, diabetes is a major cause of death worldwide.
The number of cases of diabetes is increasing around the world. The incidence of diabetes in 1995 numbered about 135 million worldwide, about 4.0% of the population. Diabetes affected 170 million people in 2000 and is projected to affect about 300 million people by 2025, about 5.4% of the population. India, China, and the United States have the largest number of cases.
In a recent year direct medical expenses in the United States for diabetes totaled $92 billion, up from $44 billion five years earlier, according to the American Diabetes Association. Another $40 billion was spent on permanent disability expenses. Care for diabetes represents about 11% of the total health care expenditures in the United States. In 1997 annual health care costs for a person with diabetes averaged $10,071 and increased to $13,243 by 2002. That annual rate is more than 5 times greater than the average annual health care costs for a person without diabetes. Also diabetes accounted for an annual loss of about 88 million disability days.
The mortality rate for people with diabetes runs about 5.2% of all deaths according to the World Health Organization. In 2000 about 2.9 million deaths worldwide were caused by diabetes. In another 4.5 million deaths diabetes was a contributing factor.
The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented from ever developing. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they nearly always develop the condition known as “pre-diabetes.” This condition occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Studies have shown that people with a pre-diabetic condition can control the condition with lifestyle changes or with medicine. With reasonable treatment they can greatly increase their chances that they will never develop diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association created a publication called, “The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes.” The following are some of the findings and recommendations from the ADA.
About 41 million Americans have the pre-diabetic condition. There are two tests commonly used by physicians to determine whether a person has pre-diabetes. One test is called the fasting plasma glucose test, or FPG, and the other is called the oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT. Both tests have a normal range and a diabetic range. The range in between indicates the pre-diabetic condition.
The FPG test is more convenient to patients, less expensive, and easier to administer than the OGTT test. On the other hand the OGTT will detect more cases of glucose intolerance and undiagnosed diabetes than the FTP test. Either test should be repeated in 3 year intervals.
Once a diabetic or pre-diabetic condition has been diagnosed, a person has two choices of treatment. One strategy is to use lifestyle modifications such as a change in diet and an increase in physical activity, and the other strategy is to use glucose-lowering drugs that have been approved for treating diabetes. Studies indicate that the drug therapy is about half as effective as the diet and exercise therapy in delaying the onset of diabetes. Lifestyle changes have been proven effective as a way to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing from the pre-diabetic condition. Diet and exercise, in many cases, are able to return the blood glucose levels to the normal range.
Lifestyle changes include a combination of losing 5% to 10% of body weight, reducing total fat calorie intake, reducing saturated fat calorie intake, increasing fiber intake, and exercising at least 150 minutes per week. One study, called the Diabetes Prevention Program study, showed that a treatment using the combination of 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity and a 5% to 10% reduction in body weight resulted in a 58% reduction in the incidence of diabetes.
The type of physical activity recommended by the ADA includes aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The goal of the aerobic exercise is to increase heart rate, raise the breathing rate, and exercise the muscles. The goal is to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week. The 30 minutes can be split into 10 minute intervals. This type of activity includes brisk walking or running, dancing, swimming or water aerobics, skating, tennis, bike riding, gardening, and house cleaning. Strength training, performed several times a week, helps to build more muscle, making everyday chores easier, and helps to burn more calories, even at rest. Flexibility exercise, simple stretching, helps to keep joints flexible and helps to reduce chances for injury during other activities.
Dietary changes are an important part of a pre-diabetes treatment. A body mass index test (BMI) can be administered and calculated easily. A BMI test result that is greater than 25 means that a person is above their ideal weight and a person with a BMI result greater than 30 is considered obese. The goal in the first instance is to decrease body weight by 5% and in the second instance by up to 10%. It is recommended that a person consult a physician who can help to develop a dietary plan that will achieve the desired weight loss.
The effects of type 2 diabetes are expensive and dangerous to one’s health. Fortunately, diabetes can be delayed or prevented by adopting a reasonable program of diet, weight control, and exercise.
Posted in Non Fiction | No comments
Diabetes is a disease caused by the inability of the body to properly produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body convert food to energy. In type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin at all. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood. In type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin or it produces insulin which is ineffective in regulating the body’s blood sugar levels. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed later in life and is commonly called adult onset diabetes.
Diabetes is an important health concern because incidence of the disease worldwide is increasing. It is also associated with other health risks and is expensive to treat and control. Also, diabetes is a major cause of death worldwide.
The number of cases of diabetes is increasing around the world. The incidence of diabetes in 1995 numbered about 135 million worldwide, about 4.0% of the population. Diabetes affected 170 million people in 2000 and is projected to affect about 300 million people by 2025, about 5.4% of the population. India, China, and the United States have the largest number of cases.
In a recent year direct medical expenses in the United States for diabetes totaled $92 billion, up from $44 billion five years earlier, according to the American Diabetes Association. Another $40 billion was spent on permanent disability expenses. Care for diabetes represents about 11% of the total health care expenditures in the United States. In 1997 annual health care costs for a person with diabetes averaged $10,071 and increased to $13,243 by 2002. That annual rate is more than 5 times greater than the average annual health care costs for a person without diabetes. Also diabetes accounted for an annual loss of about 88 million disability days.
The mortality rate for people with diabetes runs about 5.2% of all deaths according to the World Health Organization. In 2000 about 2.9 million deaths worldwide were caused by diabetes. In another 4.5 million deaths diabetes was a contributing factor.
The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented from ever developing. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they nearly always develop the condition known as “pre-diabetes.” This condition occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Studies have shown that people with a pre-diabetic condition can control the condition with lifestyle changes or with medicine. With reasonable treatment they can greatly increase their chances that they will never develop diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association created a publication called, “The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes.” The following are some of the findings and recommendations from the ADA.
About 41 million Americans have the pre-diabetic condition. There are two tests commonly used by physicians to determine whether a person has pre-diabetes. One test is called the fasting plasma glucose test, or FPG, and the other is called the oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT. Both tests have a normal range and a diabetic range. The range in between indicates the pre-diabetic condition.
The FPG test is more convenient to patients, less expensive, and easier to administer than the OGTT test. On the other hand the OGTT will detect more cases of glucose intolerance and undiagnosed diabetes than the FTP test. Either test should be repeated in 3 year intervals.
Once a diabetic or pre-diabetic condition has been diagnosed, a person has two choices of treatment. One strategy is to use lifestyle modifications such as a change in diet and an increase in physical activity, and the other strategy is to use glucose-lowering drugs that have been approved for treating diabetes. Studies indicate that the drug therapy is about half as effective as the diet and exercise therapy in delaying the onset of diabetes. Lifestyle changes have been proven effective as a way to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing from the pre-diabetic condition. Diet and exercise, in many cases, are able to return the blood glucose levels to the normal range.
Lifestyle changes include a combination of losing 5% to 10% of body weight, reducing total fat calorie intake, reducing saturated fat calorie intake, increasing fiber intake, and exercising at least 150 minutes per week. One study, called the Diabetes Prevention Program study, showed that a treatment using the combination of 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity and a 5% to 10% reduction in body weight resulted in a 58% reduction in the incidence of diabetes.
The type of physical activity recommended by the ADA includes aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The goal of the aerobic exercise is to increase heart rate, raise the breathing rate, and exercise the muscles. The goal is to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week. The 30 minutes can be split into 10 minute intervals. This type of activity includes brisk walking or running, dancing, swimming or water aerobics, skating, tennis, bike riding, gardening, and house cleaning. Strength training, performed several times a week, helps to build more muscle, making everyday chores easier, and helps to burn more calories, even at rest. Flexibility exercise, simple stretching, helps to keep joints flexible and helps to reduce chances for injury during other activities.
Dietary changes are an important part of a pre-diabetes treatment. A body mass index test (BMI) can be administered and calculated easily. A BMI test result that is greater than 25 means that a person is above their ideal weight and a person with a BMI result greater than 30 is considered obese. The goal in the first instance is to decrease body weight by 5% and in the second instance by up to 10%. It is recommended that a person consult a physician who can help to develop a dietary plan that will achieve the desired weight loss.
The effects of type 2 diabetes are expensive and dangerous to one’s health. Fortunately, diabetes can be delayed or prevented by adopting a reasonable program of diet, weight control, and exercise.