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The way our bodies use sugar for growth and energy is part of metabolic disorder. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Normally, your body breaks down the sugars and carbohydrates you eat into a special sugar called glucose. Glucose fuels the cells in your body. But the cells need insulin, a hormone produced by pancreas, in your bloodstream in order to take in the glucose and use it for energy.

With diabetes mellitus, either your body doesnt make enough insulin, it cant use the insulin it does produce, or a combination of both (diabetes type 2). Insulin resistance from obesity in the setting of relative insulin deficiency contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for most (90 percent to 95 percent) diagnosed cases. Prevalence: In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 percent of the population, had diabetes. Approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have Type 1 diabetes ( ADA. Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and non Hispanic black persons are at an increased risk for developing diabetes compared with non Hispanic white persons.

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing segment in the United States, and it has one of the highest rates of diabetes. The estimated diabetes prevalence rate in the Rio Grande Valley is over 30 percent. But I believe is much higher especially with undiagnosed ones. Since the cells cant take in the glucose, it builds up in your blood. High levels of blood glucose can damage the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys, heart, eyes, or nervous system. Thats why diabetes especially if left untreated can eventually cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage to nerves in the feet.

The warning signs of diabetes can be so mild that you dont notice them. Type 2 diabetes generally has an insidious onset of prolonged asymptomatic hyperglycemia. Most patients do not present with the classic symptoms of polydipsia (very thirsty,or polyuria (urinating a lot). With Type 1 diabetes, the symptoms usually happen quickly, in a matter of days or a few weeks. Some of the warning symptoms are getting very tired, unplanned weight loss, feeling very hungry, blurry vision, recurrent infections and prolonged wound healing. One of every four people with diabetes doesnt know they have it. See if your risk of having the disease is high (family history of diabetes, overweight or obese (Body Mass Index greater than 25), large waist circumference (women greater than 35 inches/ men greater than 40 inches), dark skin at the neck, having similar symptoms, etc.) ask your doctor to check you.

A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods. It is the main source of energy used by the body. The hemoglobin A1c test, also called HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin test, or glycohemoglobin, is an important blood test that shows how well your diabetes is being controlled. Some serious health issues linked to diabetes may not have any symptoms, such as: kidney disease, high blood pressure and heart disease.

With diabetes, you may not have symptoms of heart disease even if youre having a heart attack. And if you have kidney disease, there could be no warning signs until your kidneys are damaged. Bariatric surgeries could heal diabetes mellitus Type 2 if the BMI over 35 with two risk factors or over 40. My recommendation to diabetic patient or whom have risks: See your doctor every three months and ask him/her to educate you and share with you the care plan (team work).

Try to lose weight if youre overweight (BMI >25). Eat healthy (Mediterranean diet is a good one) and dont skip meals (three meals with snack before bed time). Exercise regularly (minimum 250 minutes/week). Take your diabetes medication as prescribed. If you smoke, get help to quit. Work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control.

The Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association is a local non-profit organization whose mission is dedicated to the prevention of diabetes and its complications through educational services, early detection and awareness. The RGVDAs focus is to bring attention on a growing health epidemic that affects one out of every four people in Hidalgo Country, making it one of the worst afflicted areas in the country. Type 2 diabetes is preventable and also manageable through a healthy regimen of exercise and dieting, The RGVDA offers free monthly cooking.

The Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association (RGVDA) provides The Monitor a monthly article to educate the public about the prevention and control of diabetes through monthly articles.

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Dr. Monzor H. Yazji and Diana F. Ramirez | Special to The Monitor - Monitor

This entry was posted on April 9, 2017 at 6:44 pm and is filed under Diabetes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |