Diabetes is a malfunction
in the way our body
digests food for growth
and energy. It is a
serious, life-long disorder
that is as yet incurable.
In the non-diabetic, a
chemical called glucose
(sugar) is formed when the
food we eat is broken down
by the digestive system.
After the glucose is formed,
it goes into our blood where
our body uses it to supply our
cells for energy and growth.
In order for this to occur,
a hormone called Insulin,
which is made by the pancreas,
must be present.
In people who don't have
diabetes, the pancreas
will produce the proper
level of insulin so
glucose can properly
be absorbed by our body.
In people with diabetes,
not enough insulin, if any,
is produced by the beta
cells of the pancreas; or
the body refuses to respond
to the insulin that is made.
Because of this, in the
diabetic, glucose is not
absorbed properly by the
cells and then accumulates
in the blood. The start of
diabetes is when the glucose
abnormally builds up in the
blood and is not absorbed
properly by the body. If
that is allowed to occur
uncontrolled for a long
period of time, we get
the long-term Complications
associated with diabetes
that affect almost every
major part of the body. It
can cause blindness,
heart disease, strokes,
kidney failure, amputations,
nerve damage, and birth
defects in babies born to
women with diabetes. Its
most common symptoms are
excessive thirst, blurred
vision, fatigue, frequent
urination, unexplained
weight loss, changes in
appetite, irritability,
itchy skin, sweet-smelling
breath, slow healing of cuts,
nausea, vomiting and severe
abdominal pain.
Ignoring the symptoms of
diabetes can lead to a
variety of other health
complications, including
blindness, amputations,
heart attacks and kidney
disease.
Although diabetes occurs
most often in older adults,
it is one of the most common
chronic disorders in children.
Diabetes can develop in people
of any age or ethnic background,
although some groups appear to
be at higher risk for certain
types of diabetes. It occurs
almost equally among males and
females, and it is more common
in the white, non-Hispanic
population. For some unknown
reasons several northern
European countries, including
Finland and Sweden, have very
high rates of diabetes.
According to the American
Diabetes Association in their book
DIABETES 1996 VITAL STATISTICS,
we know the following facts
about Diabetes.
- About 16 million people
in the United States in 1994
were projected to have diabetes mellitus or about 6% of the
population.
- Each year, 500,000 to
700,000 people are diagnosed with
diabetes.
- Almost half of these
people do not know they have diabetes
and are not under medical
care.
- Each year, 11,000 to 12,000
children and teenagers are diagnosed with
diabetes.
- In terms of medical care, treatment
supplies, hospitalizations, time lost from work,
disability payments, and premature death,
diabetes cost this country $92 billion in
1992, which was the last year
records were
available.
- In 1993 4.2 million women and 3.6
million men were diagnosed with
diabetes.
- Native Americans have the highest
rates of diabetes in the world,
upwards of 50% of their
population.
- Approximately 9.6% of African
Americans have
diabetes.
- Approximately 6.2 % of
White Americans have
diabetes.
- It was the seventh leading cause of
death listed on U.S. death certificates in
1993: 385,000 died in 1993, who had diabetes; 169,000 deaths
were directly related to having diabetes
or its complication
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