Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability
and death in the United States. One in 11 Americans have diabetes – that’s more
than 29 million people. According to the
Centers of Disease and Control, another 86 million adults in the United States
are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Despite its prevalence,
diabetes is an invisible disease. It affects men and women, people young and
old, and people of all races, shapes and sizes. Often there are no outward
signs from the 29 million Americans who fight this chronic illness every day.
That’s why there is a
critical need to foster awareness and education while breaking down
stereotypes, myths and misunderstandings about this growing public health
crisis that affects so many of us. Almost
everyone knows someone or is related to someone who has or is affected by
diabetes. This is exactly why the
American Diabetes Association marks each November as American Diabetes Month:
to bring extra attention to the disease and the tens of millions of people
affected by it.
“It’s one of those
things that affects you every single day and every minute of the day,” said
Nick Jonas, of the hit boy band the Jonas Brothers. He’s been an outspoken
advocate for diabetes awareness since shortly after he was diagnosed at age
13. He frequently has acknowledged when
discussing his diabetes, how important it has been to have the support of his
family, friends, and people he performed and toured with. “…I met people who encouraged me and helped
me to tell my story. That was a good
thing.”
It
is a good thing, because diabetes is more than the medications and devices used
to manage it. For many, diabetes dictates how they
organize their day, what they eat at every meal, how they choose to be
physically active and how they spend their money. The diagnosis is an all encompassing disease
and takes an extraordinary amount of knowledge, time and commitment to
control. Along with that, people with diabetes can have
health care costs that are 2.3 times higher than someone without diabetes, as
type 1 and type 2 require very specific forms of treatment.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune
disease usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and there is no known
way to prevent it. Approximately 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1,
which means their body does not produce any insulin. Insulin is critical in
order for the body to transport glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells
for energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to live.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form
of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of cases in the United States, and
is caused when the body does not produce or use insulin properly. Risk factors
for developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight, having a family
history of diabetes and having diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes).
Some people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose (sugar) with
healthy eating and being active; other may require oral medications or insulin,
especially as the disease progresses. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African
Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as
well as older adults.
Some
women develop gestational diabetes,
high blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy, which requires treatment to
protect the health of the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes affects
approximately 9.2 percent of pregnant women.
To raise awareness about diabetes and healthy
living, the Livingston County Health Center is proudly participating in
American Diabetes Month. The Health Center provides individual diabetes
consultations, by appointment, with a Certified Diabetes Educator. We are here to help you learn how to manage
your diabetes along with your health care team.
Good diabetes self-care means healthy eating, being active, taking your
diabetes medication, and tracking your blood sugar. Also, if you are overweight, have high blood
pressure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk of developing type 2
diabetes. The good news is that making some of these same healthy lifestyle changes
can greatly lower your risk.
At the Livingston County Health Center, we believe
that education is the cornerstone of diabetes care and diabetes
prevention. For more information about
our diabetes education services, visit us online at livcohealthcenter.com or
call 660-646-5506.
