Diabetes Awareness

HealthWatch for July 2007
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Diabetes is a serious disease and the rates are growing immensely throughout the United States. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Both deal with the amount of insulin produced in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. Insulin is absolutely necessary for life.

Type 1 diabetes develops when the human body is unable to produce insulin. This type of diabetes usually occurs before the age of 40. When the body can make insulin, but not enough, or if the insulin that is produced does not function properly it would then be categorized as Type 2 diabetes. This type usually develops in people over the age of 40 and accounts for about 85 to 95 percent of all people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the more common of the two types.

“There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.” -American Diabetes Association

Another dramatic statistic is that at least 54 million people over the age of 20 have pre-diabetes. Fortunately, it can be controlled by medication and lifestyle changes. Studies show that people with high risk can minimize their chance of receiving diabetes by eating healthy, managing your weight, getting 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week, and losing about 5 to 7 percent of your body weight.

People at high risk include those who:

are older than 45
are overweight
have a close family member such as a parent, a brother, or a sister who has or has had diabetes
had diabetes during pregnancy
had a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
are African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or American Indian
have high blood pressure
have high cholesterol or other abnormal blood fats
are inactive

Resource: National Diabetes Education Program

The American Diabetes Association identifies 10 most common myths about diabetes:

Myth #1. You can catch diabetes from someone else.
Myth #2. People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate.
Myth #3. Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
Myth #4. People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods
Myth #5. If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta.
Myth #6. People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.
Myth #7. Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure.
Myth #8. Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken.
Myth #9. Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is ok to eat as much of it as you wish.
Myth #10. You don’t need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent.

Resource: American Diabetes Association

Local Resources

Akron Children’s Hospital: Diabetes Center for Kids
Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland: Diabetes Resource Guide
Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland: Free Diabetes Risk Assessment
Huron Hospital: Diabetes Support Group
The Cleveland Clinic: Women and Diabetes
University Hospitals: About Diabetes

State and National Resources

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Risk Test
Diabetes.com: Diabetic Easy Recipes
Diabetes.org: Diabetic Diet Plan
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Types of Diabetes
National Diabetes Education Program: The 7 Principles for Controlling Your Diabetes for Life
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC): Treatments for Diabetes