What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a cluster of diseases manifested by high blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels are caused by faults in insulin production and/or insulin action. Diabetes can result in many serious complications but can be controlled to lower the risk of complications.
Type 1 Diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes occurs in 5-10% of all diabetes cases, primarily in children and young adults, and is unpreventable. It occurs when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells which produce a hormone, insulin, that regulates blood glucose levels. Those with Type 1 Diabetes must have insulin delivered by either injection or insulin pumps in order to survive.
Type 2 Diabetes:
Type 2 Diabetes occurs in 90-95% of all diabetes cases, primarily in adults, and is preventable. Type 2 Diabetes starts when the body begins to resist insulin, where the body’s cells do not use insulin properly. As the body’s need for insulin rises, the pancreas loses the ability to produce it. Older age, obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, a family history of diabetes, and a history of gestational diabetes are all linked with diabetes. Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, African Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders are most susceptible to this type of disease.
Gestational Diabetes:
Gestational Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot tolerate glucose while a woman is pregnant. Obese women and women with a family history of the disease are at the highest risk. Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, African Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders are most susceptible to this type of disease.
*THERE ARE OTHER LESS-COMMON TYPES OF DIABETES WHICH ARE FOUND IN 1-5% OF ALL DIAGNOSED CASES.
Treating Diabetes?
In order to live with Type 1 Diabetes, individuals must use an insulin pump or inject insulin as needed. Individuals diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes can manage their disease by taking oral medications, following a healthy eating plan, exercising regularly, losing weight, monitoring blood glucose levels, and working with a diabetic educator. Call 1(800)815-1577 to speaking with a diabetic advocate now.
Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-Diabetes is a condition in which an individual has blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. This condition increases the risk for the diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Symptoms of Diabetes?
High blood glucose levels can cause the following symptoms: blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, sores that won’t heal, hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent infection, tingling in the hands or feet, and recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections.
Prevention?
It is possible to prevent or delay the progression of diabetes. Eating right, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight can help to prevent and delay this disease as well as prevent complications. Please see the article, “50 Ways to Manage Your Diabetes” to find more ways to prevent and manage diabetes.
Complications?
There are many very serious complications associated with diabetes. (See Below)
Diabetes: Get the Facts!
Data from the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (the most recent year for which data is available):
- 23.6 million children and adults in the United States – 7.8% of the population – have diabetes
- 17.9 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes
- 5.7 million people have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes
- 57 million people are in the pre-diabetic stage
- 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people ages 20 years and older, each year
Total Prevalence of Diabetes
Under 20 Years of Age
- 186,300 or 0.22% of all people in the age group of 20 years of age and younger have diabetes
- About one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents have Type 1 Diabetes
- 2 million adolescents (or 1 in 6 overweight adolescents) aged 12 to 19 have Pre-Diabetes
Age 20 Years and Older
- 23.5 million, or 10.7% of all people in this age group have Diabetes
Age 60 Years and Older
- 12.2 million, or 23.1% of all people in this age group have diabetes
Men
- 12.0 million, or 11.2% of all men aged 20 years and older have diabetes
Women
- 11.5 million, or 10.2% of all women aged 20 years and older have diabetes
Race and Ethnic Differences in Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes
After adjusting for population age differences, 2004-2006 national survey data for individuals diagnosed with diabetes, aged 20 years or older, include the following prevalence by race/ethnicity:
- 6.6% of non-Hispanic Whites
- 7.5% of Asian Americans
- 11.8 % of non-Hispanic Blacks
- 10.4% of Hispanics
Among Hispanics, rates were:
- 8.2% of Hispanics diagnosed with diabetes were Cuban
- 11.9% of Hispanics diagnosed with diabetes were Mexican Americans
- 12.6% of Hispanics diagnosed with diabetes were Puerto Ricans
Morbidity and Mortality
Complications:
- Heart Disease and Stroke
- In 2004, heart disease was noted on 68% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years and older
- In 2004, stroke was noted on 16% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 and older
- Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates approximately 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes
- The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- In 2003-2004, 75% of adults with self-reported diabetes had a blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg, or used prescription medications for hypertension
- Blindness
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years
- Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year
- Kidney Disease
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2005
- In 2005, 46,739 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage kidney disease in the United States and Puerto Rico
- In 2005, a total of 178,689 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the United States and Puerto Rico.
- Nervous System Disease (Neuropathy)
- Approximately 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage
- Amputation
- More than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes
- In 2004, approximately 71,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed on people with diabetes
