Diabetes is a widespread disease caused by a body with an inadequate production or usage of insulin which later results in excessive amounts of glucose in the blood and urine. It could cause complications like infection and gangrene of the limbs and even blindness. There are various types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational Diabetes and Prediabetes.
In the U.S alone, there are 23.6 million people (7.8% of the total population) suffering from this disease while 5.7 million are undiagnosed. In 2007 reports, about 1.6 million new cases were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older. American Indian, African American, Hispanic and Alaska Native adults are twice as likely to acquire diabetes.
Diabetes is common because people tend to have an unhealthy lifestyle. Studies show that a lifestyle change could alter or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Those with prediabetes should exercise at least four hours per week. This could reduce at least 58% of the risk to acquire type 2.
There are other causes of diabetes, namely: hereditary, infections caused by viruses, obesity, stress, high carbohydrate diet, increased cholesterol level, excessive intake of oil and sugar, nutritional deficiency, overeating, high blood pressure and tension.
One must have his blood sugar checked if he or she experiences common symptoms of the disease. These are: frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections (gum, skin, vagina and bladder) and of course, if injuries tend to heal quite slowly.
If people would only be careful with their health, diabetes can be prevented. For those who already have it, blood glucose control will lower the risk of kidney, eye and nerve disease manifestations by about 40%. Constant monitoring of blood pressure levels also reduces the risk for stroke and other heart diseases among individuals with diabetes. Lastly, detecting and medicating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can minimize the possibility of blindness by about 50%-60%.
Additional Resources on Diabetes:
Overview of Diabetes from National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.
The Centers for Disease Control have extensive resources on diabetes diagnosis and prevention.
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