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Diabetic

Diabetes has become one of America’s leading diseases, afflicting approximately 7.8 percent of the population (almost 24 million men, women, and children). With 17.9 million people already diagnosed with diabetes, another 5.7 million Americans have no idea they are diabetic (American Diabetes Association). In the early stages of this disease there may be no diabetes symptoms. Without a diabetes diagnose, an individual can be totally unaware of being diabetic.

Unfortunately, many people are also completely unaware of the dangers of diabetes. For instance, high blood sugar can damage the internal organs and total health of the body. The diabetic’s eyes may become susceptible to the threat of blindness and cataracts. Coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease are also two serious dangers to the health of a diabetic. However, over 68 percent of diabetic individuals do not regard diabetes as a real risk to their heart health or a possible source of heart attacks. Yet, the diabetic individual is still more vulnerable to heart attacks at a younger age and usually will die younger than his peers. Also, thrombosis, renal failure, and diabetic nephropathy further threaten the diabetic’s health.

Since a diabetic’s feet or hands are subject to neuropathy, simple injuries such as an insect bite or a small cut can lead to complications. An untreated wound can develop abscesses, and then perhaps gangrene. Too often a gangrenous wound necessitates amputation of the diabetic’s foot, hand, or, even limb. Ultimately, the diabetic can die prematurely from any of these complications. In fact, the average life-span of a diabetic is at least ten years less than a person who does not have diabetes mellitus.

Moreover, the life of a diabetic may not be too comfortable, either. Diabetes can cause fatigue, stomach distresses such as diarrhea and nausea, and bouts of depression. Two other uncomfortable conditions can surely inflict distress on the diabetic extreme thirst and frequent urination. Poor circulation will affect the diabetic’s movement at times, causing painfully labored walking. Certainly, this makes any excursions very unpleasant.

Another condition which results from abnormal glucose levels within the body is known as hypoglycemia. Either ingesting too small an amount of food or erratic insulin excretion will decrease the blood sugar until it is well below the normal glucose levels. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include weakness, pounding heartbeat, and shakiness.

Diabetes mellitus results from consistently high glucose levels within the body. The pancreas does not produce insulin or barely any and therefore, glucose is not efficiently used by the body. The glucose does not leave the bloodstream. Diabetes also results from the body’s insulin resistance (characteristic of type 2 diabetes). The cells of the body grow resistant to insulin and are unable to absorb the glucose. Thus, the insulin grows ineffective in lowering the glucose levels within the body. The glucose levels increase abnormally and begin to cause real damage to the body over an extended period of time. Uncontrolled blood sugar affects the body in many ways: liver and kidney damage; heart damage; nerve damage; ocular damage; and circulatory problems.

To monitor the glucose level in individuals, physicians usually test the blood after an overnight fast (no food after midnight). If the blood glucose level is 140 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliters) or over on at least two separate occasions, the patient is usually diagnosed as diabetic. The normal fasting blood sugar level for individuals is between 70 to 110 mg/dl. If sugar levels are consistently higher than normal, it is a definite sign the individual has developed diabetes. He or she will then need to be under a doctor’s care for diabetes management and glucose control.

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