Health

Diabetes

Diabetes is when the body cannot metabolize carbohydrates, fat or proteins because of the impaired release of insulin or the inability of tissue to use glucose properly.  Currently, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States is diabetes and affected the health of 23.8 million Americans in 2007. 

Diabetes is much more common in people over the age of 60 than any other age group and affects more non-Hispanic whites than any other racial group.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 results from genetics and is prevalent by childhood.  The health of the child is not a determinant of getting type 1 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes is much more common and stems from poor lifestyle choices, like poor eating behaviors and lack of exercise, and becomes prevalent during adulthood.  Type 2 results from the body lacking the ability to release or use insulin properly, whereas type 1 diabetes is a complete lack of insulin.

It has been proven that diet and exercise can significantly decrease chances of getting type 2 diabetes as one gets older.  Some warning signs of diabetes include increased hunger and thirst, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination, headaches, blurred vision and loss of consciousness.  It can be hard to detect type 2 symptoms and at least one-third of people do not even know they are diabetic. 

Oral diabetes medication can be taken to make living with diabetes much easier.  Also insulin drugs are usually given to people with type 1 diabetes to help maintain their health and insulin levels for the rest of their childhood and adulthood.