National Diabetes Month is observed every November to draw attention to diabetes and its effects on millions of Americans. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled. One in 11 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 29 million people. And another 86 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Understanding Diabetes
type 1
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.
The good news is that, with the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.
type 2
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
The good news is that, people who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and losing weight.
Visit the American Diabetes Association for a host of resources. The Living with Diabetes section offers a wealth of information about being recently diagnosed to complications to treatment and a section for parents and kids.
