5.9% of the US population has diabetes that is approximately 15.

1
million people. Each day 2,200 people are diagnosed. 798,000 will be
diagnosed this year. It is the 7th leading cause of death. There is no
cure for diabetes only methods to treat its symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes develops in 2.5% of all pregnancies but

disappears when the pregnancy is over. The women are at an
increased risk for developing type II later in life. It is temporary form of
production, or the pancreass inability to produce enough insulin. If the
woman has hyperglycemia, her blood glucose crosses the placenta but
her insulin does not. This can cause a high birth weight for baby

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms

seem so harmless. Early detection and treatment can lower the
incidence of complications.

Doctors diagnose on the basis of high levels of glucose in the blood.

There are 2 types of blood tests used for screening and diagnostic.
Screening is done on people with no symptoms of diabetes. You have
probably seen these done at health fairs where blood is taken by
pricking your finger. For a diagnostic tests, the physician draws blood
from a vein. Two of the diagnostic tests are:
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test fasted for at least 8 hours.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Must fast overnight, then your fasting
blood sugar is tested. You then receive 75 grams of glucose and blood
samples are taken four times to measure blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is actually diagnosed when two diagnostic test completed at
different times/days show that your blood sugar is high.

Diabetics also must be pay close attention to their feet, this may be an
issue with exercise. 1 in 5 people with diabetes enter the hospital due
to foot problems. Usually due to poor wound healing which is caused
by poor circulation.

Hemoglobin A1C is the blood test with a memory. Hemoglobin is the

protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. These blood cells stay in
circulation for 2-3 months. It is not used to diagnose just to monitor
blood sugar control. It is performed two times a year. A hemoglobin of
6% indicates good control and level>8% indicates action is needed.

Nutrition along with exercise and medication is important for good

diabetes control. Diabetes control means keeping the blood sugar level
as close to normal as possible. This can be done by eating a diet low
in saturated fat and total fat, moderate in sodium and sugar, eating 5 or
more fruits a day, a diet rich in whole grains, and moderate use of
alcohol. Alcohol moves quickly through the blood without being broken
down. The alcohol content of blood can be measured within 5 minutes
of a having a drink. If you have diabetes alcohol can cause
hypoglycemia.

Each year 190,000 people die as a result of diabetic complications.

Diabetes complications are the seventh leading cause of death. They
are all strongly related to high blood sugar. They include blindness- this
is the leading cause of blindness in people 20 to 74 years of age.
Kidney Disease 10 21% develop kidney disease, it is the most
common cause of end-stage renal disease requiring the need of
dialysis to live. Heart Disease and Stroke diabetes are 2 4 times
more likely to have heart disease.

Nerve disease and amputations occur in 60 70% of diabetic patients.

The risk is 40 times greater for a diabetic person to have some form of
nerve damage. Impotence is due to diabetic nephropathy or blood
vessel blockage it affects 13% of people with Type I and 8% of those
with Type II.

After they feel better they need to eat regular meals and snacks.

Ketoacidosis is also known as a diabetic coma.

Hyperglycemia happens from time to time to all people who have

diabetes. It is the technical term for high blood sugar. Other stresses
can also cause it.

It is very important to treat it as soon as possible. Usually can lower it

by exercising or injecting more insulin, be careful of the somogyi effect.
This is the condition of hypoglycemia resulting from the treatment of
hyperglycemia. Need to test blood sugar often. Testing and finding
high blood sugar early can help avoid complications and symptoms of
hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is a very complicated disease. It is the cause of great

discomfort and death in this country alone. The best defense is to
make everyone aware of the risk factors and symptoms to prevent and
detect.