Diabetes Is Complicated
To say that diabetes is complicated is an understatement. Diabetes is when the blood sugar is elevated over a prolonged period of time. Initial symptoms may include frequent thirst, increased urination and increased apatite. The problem though lies in the consequences that happen in those with diabetes. These patients if left untreated may unfortunately manifest many health problems. Serious long term complications include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, foot ulcers, damage to the nerves of the feet, eye disease and loss of cognitive skills or dementia.
Diabetes comes about when the pancreas that makes our insulin, that the body uses to keep our sugars under control, is either not making enough insulin, the quality of the insulin made is defective or the cells of the body are not responding to the insulin that is being made. This results in the sugar numbers being elevated and the complications start to add up.
There are over 30.3 million or 9.4% of Americans are diagnosed with diabetes in America. Add to that the 84.1 million people that are pre diabetic in this country and you can see that we have a huge problem on our hands.
When the body does not make insulin, it is called Type 1 diabetes. The more common diabetes is Type 2. Here we see the cells of the body not respond to the insulin that is being made. As we age though we progressively make less insulin each and every day so we may see a lack of insulin also. This is why we previously would see Type 2 diabetes in people as they got older. The significant increase in obesity, especially in the young, means we are seeing a huge increases of diabetes in younger people. Obesity increases the occurrence of diabetes as does inactivity. Diabetes at least doubles a person’s risk of early death.
As we see more and more people develop diabetes the medical profession has finally said we need to be more aggressive. Recent thoughts have led to the adoption of treating the patient earlier in the course. The pre diabetic is where the treatment should begin. Not allowing the patient to have years of elevated glucose readings and then starting treatment.
When we speak about diabetes many patients would be afraid that they would be starting on insulin. We are at a space in time where we are fortunate to have
several great medications that are quite effective in correcting the defects that diabetes causes in the body, and they are oral for the most part.
Many people like to hide behind the prediabetes term and chose to not be aggressive with the treatment of this possibly devastating disease. We see diabetes in families. If you have family members with diabetes, be proactive and get yourself tested for diabetes. If you were diabetic during pregnancy, you have an outsized chance of becoming diabetic. Be proactive and keep a check on your status with diabetes.
Obesity is one of the fore runners of many diabetic patients. If you are obese keep a solid eye on your diabetic status. If you are obese, try to lose weight and become more active. Remember your enemies include bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and sweets. Limit your consumption of these. Develop a sustainable exercise program. Learn about your diet. Let your healthcare provider know you are aware of the consequences of not treating diabetes and you prescribe to the new way of thinking. Let them know you do not want to wait until you develop diabetes, but you are proactive and want to prevent yourself from becoming diabetic.
Diabetics do not die of diabetes they die of heart disease. Diabetics have a four times greater risk of developing dementia. Does it have to be that way? No, be proactive.
