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Diabetes Facts: At a Glance

Here are a few facts to help answer some of the questions you may have since you've been told you have diabetes. On the following pages you will find more detailed information that may be useful to you.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body isn't able to take the glucose (sugar) from your bloodstream and carry it to your body cells where it can be used for energy. The glucose level builds up and causes "high blood sugar." This high level of glucose often has no symptoms but can cause you to feel tired, make your vision blurry or cause you to feel thirsty or urinate more frequently. Unexplained weight loss can also occur. The symptoms you have will depend on the type of diabetes that you have.

How did I get diabetes?

You can be at risk for diabetes from a number of things: family history, inactivity and obesity, ethnicity including African American, Asian American, Latino, Native American or a Pacific Islander, having a baby over 9 lbs. or having gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy). You may also have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. 

Should I be worried?

If the high blood glucose levels that come with diabetes are not controlled, a number of other health issues can occur. Diabetes can affect your eyes, nerve cells, blood vessels and kidneys and also put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. It can cause wounds to heal more slowly and put you at a higher risk of getting an infection. Diabetes can also have an effect on your gums and make you more likely to have dental problems. Controlling your blood glucose today can help to prevent or delay problems in the future.

What can I do?

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn how to manage your diabetes day-to-day. Getting medical care on a regular basis along with good self-management skills can decrease your risk for other health problems and help to keep your blood glucose in a good range. There are a number of ways to keep in control with diabetes, including following a meal plan, checking your blood glucose levels, staying or becoming active, getting regular check-ups and taking medications, if necessary.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

Diabetes

Let's look at what happens when we eat. All of the food we take in turns, in some portion, to glucose (sugar). This glucose enters the bloodstream and travels to the cells. Each cell has doors or receptors through which the glucose can enter, but it can't do it alone. An organ called the pancreas plays a very important role. The pancreas senses when the blood glucose goes up after the meal and sends out a substance called insulin. The insulin travels to the cells where it helps the glucose enter through the doors or receptors. The glucose hitches a ride, so to speak. Once the glucose has entered the cells it is used to produce energy. If the glucose can't enter the cells, it stays in the blood causing high blood glucose (sugar) to occur.

Type 1 Diabetes

This type of diabetes accounts for about one out of every ten people with diabetes.

You may recognize it by its former name, juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes. Although seen more commonly in younger people, type 1 diabetes can happen at any age In those with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin, the substance that helps move blood glucose from the blood into the cells. Although the exact cause of this is unknown, it is believed that a virus, infection or genetic factor may cause the body to attack the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This is called an autoimmune response. Without insulin to help move the glucose into the cells, it builds up in the blood and causes high blood glucose levels.

Type 2 Diabetes

This type of diabetes is the most common and affects about 90% of the population with diabetes.

It used to be known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, a combination of things may happen that cause blood glucose levels to be high.

• The glucose may not be able to enter the cells even though there is enough insulin produced. This is called insulin resistance.
• The pancreas does not make enough insulin to overcome the resistance. This is called insulin deficiency.

Comparison of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diagnosis

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes may be diagnosed in the following ways:

• A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or above at any time of the day without regard to the time of the last meal
• A fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or above. Fasting means no food or drink (except water) for 8 hours prior to the test.

The test should be checked twice to confirm the diagnosis.

The information presented here is meant to be strictly for informational and educational purposes. It is not to be considered as advice, including medical advice, from Liberty Medical Supply, Inc. None of the information is intended to serve as a substitute for diagnosis from, or consultation with, a health care professional. Always consult your doctor regarding any medical questions that you have, as well as before starting or changing your exercise or diet program, and before adjusting any medication.