high level reading about Diabetes

Diabetes is a deadly disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, it is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S., and it has no cure. Diabetes affects millions of people. There are 18.2 million people in the U.S., or 6.3% of the population, who have the disease.

Diabetes happens when the body does not make enough insulin or does not use it correctly. The cells of the body become resistant to insulin. Often, people with diabetes are overweight and get little or no physical exercise.

Insulin allows blood glucose, or blood sugar, to enter the cells of the body to be used for energy to keep us alive. The body then uses that energy for all of our bodily functions and to rid the body of waste products.

Symptoms of the disease include: increased thirst, weight loss, fatigue, and blurry vision. Other signs of diabetes are recurring infections, cuts or bruises that heal slowly, and tingling of the hands or feet. Contact your doctor if you have these symptoms.

Diabetes can cause many problems. The most life-threatening are heart disease and stroke. Heart disease strikes people with diabetes twice as often as people without it. Also, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer strokes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people ages 20 – 74.

Diabetes causes kidney disease and kidney failure. It is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Diabetes also causes nerve disease. It is the most frequent cause of lower-limb amputations. The risk of leg amputation is 15 – 40 times greater for a person with diabetes.

The number of persons with diabetes is growing at an alarming rate. In the U.S., there are one million new cases of diabetes diagnosed every year in people aged 20 years or older. The number of cases in children and youth is also growing.

Many children and young people have poor eating habits, are overweight, and do not exercise. These factors cause diabetes no matter what your age. There is a direct link between the degree of obesity and the risk of developing diabetes.

Diabetes is not contagious. Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. It is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle. The key is to maintain a healthy weight, eat sensibly, and exercise regularly.