Archived Article From Jan. 2007
Know the Signs and Symptoms
of Diabetes
Some of the most important information any
individual needs to know are the signs and symptoms of diabetes
including how it is diagnosed. This article will also examine the
condition called pre-diabetes that affects as many as 41 million
people in the United States and can lead to the diagnosis of
diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is the result of little or no insulin production by
the pancreas (the organ that makes insulin). Type 2 diabetes is when
the body cannot use the insulin the pancreas does make. This is
called insulin resistance. About 5 to 10 percent of people with
diabetes have type 1 and about 90-95 percent have type 2, making
type 2 the most common form of the disease. People that develop type
1 diabetes get ill very suddenly and therefore are usually diagnosed
quickly. Type 2 typically has a much slower onset and can be harder
to detect in the early stages. Because of this, when people are
finally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they have probably had it
already from 5 - 10 years. Let’s review some of the more common
signs and symptoms of diabetes. These include;
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Vision changes
Risks include:
• Heredity
• Race (Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans)
• Overweight
• Not getting enough exercise
• Women who have developed gestational diabetes
• Women who have had babies over 9 pounds
If you are at risk and/or have symptoms it is important to discuss
them with your health care provider. Unfortunately, there are
individuals that have no symptoms at all, which makes it even more
important to know if you have any of the diabetes risk factors so
you and your healthcare team can be alert for any changes in your
medical condition.
Diagnosis of diabetes is determined by blood sugar numbers that are
usually the result of a fasting blood sugar test. The test is done
by drawing blood from a person after they have not had anything to
eat or drink for at least 8 hours. A normal blood sugar is 99 mg/dl
or less and diagnosis of diabetes is a blood sugar of 126 mg/dl and
above. There are other tests used to diagnose diabetes, but whatever
test is used, the first test result must be confirmed by doing a
second blood test on another occasion to make the diagnosis of
diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is a diagnosis given to an individual when their blood
sugar is abnormal but not yet high enough to be diabetes. Abnormal
means a fasting blood sugar between 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl. Research
has shown that people with pre-diabetes are more likely go on to
develop diabetes unless they make certain lifestyle changes to
prevent it.
These lifestyle changes have been proven to reduce and even prevent
the progression to type 2 diabetes and are relatively simple things
to do. They include reducing an individual’s weight by as little as
7 percent and exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a
week. A 7 percent weight loss means that a person who weighs 200
pounds would need to lose 14 pounds. Theses weight loss amounts are
not so overwhelming that they would discourage people, especially if
it means the possibility of not getting diabetes!
As always, knowledge is power! Knowing how to prevent or delay
diabetes when a person is at risk is an incredible advantage that
has only recently been talked about in the news media. Education
about disease prevention, as well as how to manage a chronic disease
like diabetes, must be the foundation that helps direct people to
care for themselves in the best way possible.
To summarize;
Diabetes signs include excessive thirst, frequent urination,
tiredness and vision changes such as blurriness.
Diabetes risks include heredity, race, weight gain, lack of exercise
and having a baby over 9 pounds
Pre-diabetes affects approximately 41 million people in the United
States. It is defined as a blood sugar that is higher than normal
but not high enough for diagnosis of diabetes.
For more information consult your healthcare provider, hospital or
diabetes educator nearest you which can be easily found on this
website.
Announcements
The Tri-County Diabetes Alliance
will sponsor and conduct several health education and outreach
programs addressing prevention of pre-diabetes and diabetes. This
will include presentations and free health screenings in a variety
of settings including schools, worksites, faith based communities,
and other community centers. Please check our
events calendar by clicking here .
Am I at Risk?
Take Our On-Line Risk Assessment by
clicking here
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