Facts About Diabetes

Diabetes is defined as the body's inability to use insulin to turn the glucose in the blood into energy. Since the glucose we create from eating and drinking is not burned off, it collects in the blood, causing the blood sugar levels to increase. Over time, these high levels of blood sugar can cause heart problems and foot problems, damage eyes and kidneys and cause poor circulation.

The criteria for diagnosing diabetes are:

Having the symptoms of diabetes such as increased thirst, increased urination, unexplained weight loss, nausea, blurred vision and persistent infections and
A non-fasting blood test with a glucose concentration equal to or greater than 200 or
A fasting blood test with a glucose concentration equal to or greater than 126. Fasting is defined as no caloric intake for at least 8 hours.

Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is when the body produces no or very little insulin. This type of diabetes usually occurs in people under the age of 30. People with Type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult onset diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin but it is either not enough or the body cannot utilize insulin properly to help turn the glucose in the blood into energy.

The good news is that people can live long, healthy, happy lives with diabetes by learning how to control the blood sugar levels. This greatly reduces the damage high blood sugar causes to their eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves. For more information about diabetes, contact your local chapter of the American Diabetes Association. In Raleigh call 919-743-5400 or look at their web site, www.diabetes.org.