Diabetes is a chronic
disease that occurs as a result of a shortage of insulin
or a decreased ability to use insulin. Insulin is a hormone
that allows glucose (sugar) to enter our cells. Most of
the food we eat is turned into glucose, which our bodies
use for energy. When the body is not making or using insulin
properly, sugars and fats can build up in the blood, causing
damage to important organs.
What is Pre-Diabetes?
There are 16 million Americans with pre-diabetes, a condition
that puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Pre-diabetes means that blood glucose levels are higher
than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as
diabetes.
Type
1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs most often in childhood and adolescence.
About 5-10% of all diabetes cases is type 1. Although it
is not clear what factors contribute to the development
of type 1 diabetes, researchers believe that genetics and
environment are most likely the factors involved.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most (90-95%) people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 most often occurs after age 40. Although it used
to be considered an adult-only disease, younger people including
children and teens are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is especially affecting African American,
Native American and Hispanic children.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and lack of physical
activity. A family history of diabetes, older age, prior
history of gestational diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance
can also increase the risk of developing the disease.
Gestational
Diabetes About 2-5% of pregnant women develop abnormal
glucose and insulin levels, or gestational diabetes. Although
glucose and insulin levels often return to normal after
pregnancy, as many as 50% of women who have gestational
diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes within 20 years after
childbirth.
Gestational diabetes occurs more frequently in African
Americans, Hispanics/Latinos and Native Americans, and people
with a family history of diabetes.
Women with gestational diabetes may have larger babies,
which can make labor and natural delivery more difficult.
Some women with gestational diabetes need surgery to deliver
their bigger babies. Surgery can increase the mother's risk
of infection and extend the motheräs recovery time.
Children whose mothers had gestational diabetes are at
higher risk for certain health problems:
- As babies, they are at higher risk for Respiratory Distress
Syndrome (RDS), a disease that makes it hard for the baby
to breathe.
- They are more likely to be obese (very overweight) as
children or adults, which can lead to other health problems.
- They are at higher risk for getting diabetes, or high
blood sugar, as they get older.
Are You at Risk for Gestational
Diabetes? Studies have shown that African American
women may be 50-80% more likely to develop gestational diabetes
than white women. Find out if you should be tested.
Source: National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse
Am
I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
Knowing if you are at risk for diabetes can help your doctor
diagnose and treat and diabetes early. Finding and treating
diabetes early can prevent serious complications
later.
Risk factors for diabetes include:
- Being older than 45
- Being overweight
- Having a close family member, like a parent, brother,
or sister, who has, or had, diabetes
- Having had diabetes when you were pregnant
- Being African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American
or Pacific Islander, or Native American
What are Diabetes
Complications? Can I Prevent Them?
African Americans experience higher rates of diabetes complications
such as eye disease, kidney
failure, and amputations. Some
factors that influence the frequency of these complications
include:
- High blood glucose levels
- Abnormal blood lipid
- High blood pressure
- Cigarette smoking
If you have diabetes, there are things you
can do to reduce your risk of developing complications.
In addition to not smoking and controlling your blood pressure,
blood glucose, and cholesterol levels, regular check-ups
with your doctor can help you keep your diabetes under control.
Learn about common diabetes complications
 Eye Disease
Diabetic eye disease is 40 percent to 50 percent higher
in African Americans than in white Americans. The condition
may occur more frequently in African Americans because of
their higher rate of hypertension.
High blood glucose and high blood pressure can damage parts
of the eye, especially the retina (part of eye that detects
light). Diabetes can cause the tiny blood vessels in the
retina to swell and weaken. Over time, damage to the retina
can lead to impaired vision and, ultimately, to blindness.
The good news is that screening and care could prevent
up to 90% of diabetes–related blindness. To prevent and
detect eye problems, experts recommend that people with
diabetes have a dilated eye exam once a year.
Learn how to prevent diabetic
eye disease:
Sources: American
Diabetes Association, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kidney
Failure
The kidneys help clean our blood by filtering or getting
rid of waste and extra fluid. High blood sugar and high
blood pressure can damage the kidneys – causing waste
and fluid to build up in our blood. This build up of waste
can eventually lead to kidney failure, also called end-stage
renal disease (ESRD).
Diabetes and hypertension are the leading cause of ESRD
among African Americans. African Americans with diabetes
experience ESRD four times more often than diabetic white
Americans. In spite of the high rates of ESRD, African
Americans have better survival rates after they develop
kidney failure than white Americans.
Keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control
can slow kidney damage. If you have diabetes, you should:
-
Ask your doctor what you can do to control your blood
pressure and blood sugar levels
-
Have your kidneys checked at
least once a year
-
See a doctor right away if you
think you have a bladder or kidney infection
Learn how to prevent kidney
failure: Download brochure: Keep
Your Kidneys Healthy (PDF file)
Sources: American
Diabetes Association, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Amputations
Diabetes increases the risk of leg amputations (amp-yoo-TAY-shun).
Amputation is surgery to cut off a body part such as a toe
or foot.
Damage to nerves and poor blood flow in your legs and feet
can cause serious problems such as infections that do not
heal. These infections can cause gangrene (GANG-green) or
skin and tissue death. To prevent gangrene from spreading,
a doctor may have to amputate the body part.
African Americans with diabetes are much more likely to
have lower-limb (legs) amputations than white or Hispanic
Americans with diabetes. If you have diabetes, there are
things you and your doctor can do to prevent
complications such as amputations.
Learn how to prevent amputations:
Sources: American
Diabetes Association, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Manage Your
Diabetes, Every Day
Although you
have diabetes, there are things you can do to stay healthy
and reduce your chance of developing complications.
Here are a few things to do
every day for good diabetes care:
- Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor
or dietitian have worked out.
- Eat your meals and snacks at around the same times
each day.
- Be active a total of 30 minutes most days. Ask your
doctor what activities are best for you.
- Take your diabetes medicine at the same times each day.
- Check your blood sugar every day. Each time you check
your blood sugar, write the number in your record book.
Call your doctor if your numbers are too high or too low
for 2 to 3 days.
- Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores,
swelling, redness, or sore toenails.
- Brush and floss your teeth and gums every day.
- Don't smoke.
Source: National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse, NIH Publication No. 00-4349, May 2000
What your doctor
or health provider can do to help you manage your diabetes
Checkups:
What Your Doctor Should Do
If you have diabetes,
these are some things for your health care provider to look
at every time you have a checkup:
| Your Blood Sugar Records |
Show your records to your health
care provider. Tell
your health care provider if you have low blood sugar
or high blood sugar often. |
| Your Weight |
Ask your health care provider
how much you should weigh.
Talk about ways to reach your goal that will work for
you |
| Your Blood Pressure |
A good goal for most people
is less than 130/85.
Ask your health care provider about ways to reach your
goal. |
| Your Diabetes Medicines
Plan |
Talk to your health care provider
about any problems you have had with your diabetes medicines.
|
| Your Feet |
Ask your health care provider
to check your feet to make sure your foot nerves and
your blood circulation are OK. |
| Your Plan for Exercise |
Tell your health care provider
what you do to stay active. |
| Your Meal Plan |
Ask questions about what to
eat, how much to eat, or when to eat. |
| Your Feelings (Are
you tense or depressed?) |
Ask your health care provider
about ways to handle stress.
If you are feeling sad or unable to cope with problems,
ask about how to get help. |
| Your Smoking |
If you smoke, quitting may
be very hard to do. But your health care provider may
be able to help. |
Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse,
NIH Publication No. 00-4349, May 2000
|
