The Facts on Diabetes
By: NayNay Butler​

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Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich
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​​Diabetes affects approximately 37.3 million children and adults in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. There are approximately 8.5 million adults over 18 years of age that have not been diagnosed with diabetes. This means so many people are walking around with diabetes and have no idea they have it, or are at risk of having it. I know people that only found out they have it after their routine yearly physical exams. It is so important to visit your doctor and get a blood test called an A1C test to detect whether or not you could have diabetes. 

Diabetes is when your body turns the food you eat into sugar that travels through your bloodstream. According to the CDC, "when your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body's cells for use as energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use the insulin it makes as well as it should." 
ttps://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html#:~:text=With%20diabetes%2C%20your%20body%20either,and%20released%20into%20your%20bloodstream.  

Types of Diabetes: 

Type 1 - This form of diabetes mainly surfaces in children and teenagers, but can occur at any age.  This type of diabetes means your body does not produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes afflicts approximately 5-10% of people who have diabetes.                            
                                                                 Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes
                          
  •   Frequent urination
  •   Increased thirst 
  •   Extreme hunger
  •   Unusual weight loss                                                  
  •   Fatigue and irritability  
  •   Blurred vision

Type 2 - This form of diabetes can occur at any age.  This type of diabetes means either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. 
                                                           
                                                Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
                                                   
  • Any of the type one symptoms
  • Frequent infections
  • Blurred vision
  • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
  • Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
  • Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections

There are certain people who are at an increased risk for diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in particular racial groups are: 

American Indians/Alaskan Indians 14.5%
Non-Hispanic Blacks 12.1%
Hispanics 11.8%
Asian Americans 9.5%
Non Hispanic Whites 7.4%

Diabetes is a progressive disease, if left untreated it can cause cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, vascular dementia, and many more complications. It is very common that most people who die from diabetes, die from the complications associated with diabetes rather than from diabetes. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 87,647 deaths in 2019. I had a family member that had diabetes, and developed vascular dementia and ultimately died from a massive heart attack. Diabetes contributed significantly to their death. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes can be genetic. If one or both of your parents have it, the chances are higher for you to have it. Both of my parents had it, and I am struggling to manage my diabetes. I am not yet on any medication, but I have to be very mindful of my diet.  

It is vital that everyone get their blood checked for diabetes so you can begin treatment as soon as possible to avoid these complications. There are things you can do if you are diagnosed with diabetes to improve your chances of not experiencing the complications associated with diabetes
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1. Eating a healthy diet consisting of plenty of vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low fat dairy, fruits ( try to avoid watermelon and over ripe bananas), and healthy fats such as dark chocolate, nuts, eggs, Avocado, Olive Oil, and fatty fish) 

2. Get some exercise - Walking is one of the best exercises. Walking at least 30 minutes a day can be very beneficial to keep your diabetes under control. It doesn't what exercise you choose, it just matters that you keep yourself active and not sedentary. Always speak with your doctor before starting any exercise plan.
 
3. Avoid sugary drinks and sweets.

4. Drink plenty of water.  

5. If you are overweight, try losing some weight. This will really be beneficial in controlling your diabetes.

6. Check the labels on all of the food you buy. Just about everything has sugar in it, even condiments such ketchup, barbeque sauce and salad dressing contain some levels of sugar. Choose the ones with the lesser amount of sugar if you want to have it, and eat those things in moderation. 

Living with diabetes is not easy, but there is a lot you can do to improve your chances of living a long and healthy life.  The first step is to see your doctor and get tested.  The longer you wait, the more damage diabetes can be causing, and you may not realize the damage until it is too late. 

To learn more about Diabetes visit www.diabetes.org/


Sources:

Center for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html

Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011

American Diabetes Association
​www.diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/about-diabetes
https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/genetics-diabetes#:~:text=Is%20type%202%20diabetes%20genetic,also%20depends%20on%20environmental%20factors
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Wed MD 
www.webmd.com/diabetes/ss/slideshow-best-diabetes-diets ​

American Health Rankings
​www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Diabetes

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