The Invisible Disease

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.