Diabetes is a disease where the body does not produce insulin and/or use it properly. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, and it is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy that the body can use for fuel. Insulin "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose (sugar) to enter and fuel the cells.

Diabetes can often go undiagnosed, because many its symptoms seem relatively harmless. However, the sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the less chance of serious complications.

These symptoms include:

• frequent urination
• excessive thirst
• extreme hunger
• unusual weight loss
• increased fatigue
• irritability
• blurry vision

You should see your physician as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms.

There are 18.2 million Americans with diabetes, or 6.3% of the population. Do you know that of these 18.2 million people with diabetes, 5.2 million are not even aware that they have this serious and potentially debilitating disease?

There are four major types of diabetes:

• Type I
• Type II
• Gestational Diabetes
• Pre-diabetes

In Type I diabetes, the individual’s pancreas is no longer able to produce any insulin, and this person will need to administer themselves insulin everyday for the rest of their lives. Approximately 5-10% of the American population have this type of diabetes. Type I diabetes was previously known as “juvenile-onset” diabetes, occurring more often in children, but it can also occur in adults as old as 40 years. This is a serious disease, but one can live a long, happy and healthy life with proper care.

In Type II diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin that is produced. Type II diabetes is the most common form and is prevalent in about 90% of the population with diabetes. Today, Type II diabetes, which has historically been a disease found only in adults, is now becoming prevalent among our children, due to unhealthy nutrition and activity lifestyles. It is also a serious disease, but just as with Type I diabetes, one can live a long, happy and healthy life with proper care.

Gestational Diabetes affects about 4% of pregnant women. There are about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes, in the U.S. annually. This type of diabetes is not only a threat to the mother, but also to the baby. However, with proper screening and treatment, gestational diabetes can have excellent outcomes for both the mother and the baby.

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar is higher than normal, but not quite as high to be considered diabetes. It is sometimes also referred to as Impaired Glucose Tolerance. Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have “pre-diabetes.” There are 41 million people in the Unites States with pre-diabetes, many who are not yet even aware of it. Therefore, having your physician routinely screen for diabetes is a good idea. There is evidence that long-term damage to the body may already be occurring with pre-diabetes, especially to the heart and circulatory system.

Although the causes for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different, there are two factors that are important in both types. The first thing is that one must inherit a predisposition for diabetes. And second, there is something in the environment that must trigger the disease. Genetics alone is not enough to explain how one gets diabetes. Proof of this has been shown with studies on identical twins. When one twin has Type I diabetes, at most, only half the time will the other twin get the disease. With Type 2 diabetes, if one twin gets the disease, at most, the other twin’s risk is 3 in 4.

As illustrated above, there is a stronger genetic predisposition in Type 2 diabetes, than in Type 1. However, although a family history for Type 2 diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors, predisposition to Type 2 diabetes only seems to matter if the right environmental factors are present. These environmental factors are basically, a Western lifestyle. In other words, a lifestyle prevalent in Americans and Europeans who generally eat too much fat, too little carbohydrate and fiber, and also get too little physical activity, are at greater risk for Type II diabetes if the genetic predisposition is also there. In contrast, people who live in an un-Westernized society, tend to not get type 2 diabetes, no matter how high their genetic risk. Being overweight or obese is a strong risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

The cause for Gestational diabetes is still more of a mystery.  At this time, it appears that women, who get diabetes while they are pregnant, more often have a family history of diabetes, especially on their mother’s side.  But, just as with Type I and Type II diabetes, environmental factors also play a large part. It also appears that women who begin their pregnancy overweight and women, who are older, are more likely to get gestational diabetes. Additionally, however, just the state of pregnancy increases the risk. The action of the mother’s insulin may be blocked as a result of the production of pregnancy hormones, causing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard to use the mother’s insulin that is produced, thereby requiring additional insulin and/or improved diet and activity control. Gestational diabetes can hurt both the mother and the baby, therefore it is crucial that it be tested for and treated.

People with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the development of Type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent, through changes in their lifestyle, e.g. modest weight loss and regular exercise. For many people with pre-diabetes, intervening early may actually “turn back the clock” and return elevated blood glucose levels to a normal range. However, without this intervention, progression to Type 2 diabetes is usually inevitable.

• Be a good role model to your family and friends, and lead a healthy lifestyle (including a healthy diet and activity level and remaining tobacco and drug-free)

• Educate others about this diseases and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle

• See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of diabetes, and do all that you can to take control of the disease. One can still live a normal, healthy and happy life with diabetes. Educate yourself!

• Be a Team Player: The treatment of diabetes involves a team approach, and YOU, the person with diabetes, are the head of that team. Second in command of the team is your physician. Your team may also consist of a Registered Dietitian, a Registered Nurse, a podiatrist, a pharmacist or an ophthalmologist. Depending on complications, other healthcare professionals will be on your team. YOU are not alone. For more information on diabetes, you can contact www.diabetes.org where this information was referenced.

For a personalized consultation with a Registered Dietitian and Registered Nurse, and Diabetes Educator, contact Cheryl.