Diabetes is a common medical condition that is becoming more prevalent. This condition affects more than twenty million Americans. People who want to learn more about diabetes may be interested in diabetes facts.
Diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body not responding normally to insulin. There are three types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce the necessary amount of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called juvenile diabetes because the condition of the pancreas not producing insulin is often present at birth.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the muscles, fat, and liver cells failing to respond normally to the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes has been known as adult onset diabetes with adults over the age of forty-five at the highest risk. However, there has been an increase in the number of young adults developing type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman develops abnormally high blood sugar levels. This condition is usually resolved after the birth of the baby.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which the patient has abnormally high blood sugar levels that are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Up to forty million Americans have pre-diabetes.
Certain risk factors may increase a person’s chance of developing diabetes. A family history of diabetes, being over the age of forty-five, obesity, polycystic ovary disease, high cholesterol, and leading a sedentary life are factors that increase the risk of diabetes.
Some facts about diabetes show how extremely important foot care is for people with diabetes. Sores on the feet may fail to heal and become infected. Many times, sores on the feet go unnoticed by the diabetic person because nerve damage has impaired their ability to feel the pain of an injury.
Diabetes also damages the blood vessels which can make wounds take a long time to heal. If a wound goes undetected and becomes severely infected, the diabetic patient may develop gangrene which can make amputation of the toe, foot, or leg necessary.
Over half of the amputations performed in the United States are caused by diabetes complications. Out of every one thousand people with diabetes, almost six amputations of the toe, foot, or leg are necessary. These lower extremity amputations are more common in men than women.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a potentially fatal complication of diabetes. This occurs when insulin levels are dangerously low and the body breaks down fat for energy.
Ketones build up in the blood when fat is broken down. This complication is most common in people with type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes can be managed with a diabetic diet, exercise, and prescribed insulin if necessary. Some experts also suggest reducing stress and using stress management techniques as part of diabetes management.