Diabetes Symptoms - Diabetes Statistics
If you or a family member have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, there is a good chance that until this point you knew very little about the disease. Unfortunately this is all too common. Diabetes is not a disease that most people are aware of until it affects them personally. Most people are unaware of what it means to have diabetes or know of the day-to-day issues and life-long health concerns that are faced by diabetics.
Diabetes is a serious health condition that requires regular monitoring of ones blood glucose levels to remain healthy. If steps are taken to control the disease, many of the harmful affects of diabetes can be avoided and one can live a healthy life. For those individuals who do not make the necessary lifestyle changes, however, the outcome of the disease is a much shorter life full of health problems. Hopefully, more and more people become aware of diabetes and learn what steps they can take in order to prevent or treat this disease and live a healthier and longer life.
The Prevalence of Diabetes
Based on how little we hear about diabetes, many are surprised to find out that diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease for people in the US. Over the past ten years, deaths caused by heart disease, stroke and cancer have gone down, while those caused by diabetes have gone up by 45 percent. Many people also have multiple health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure in addition to diabetes that may be listed as the cause of death, so that the actual amount of deaths caused by diabetes may actually even be higher than reported.
It is estimated that about 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. While two-thirds of these people are aware that they have diabetes and can steps to control the disease, approximately one-third of them are undiagnosed and do not know they have diabetes. Another 41 million people have pre-diabetes. In 2005, the number of newly diagnosed people over 25 years of age with diabetes was 1.5 million.
The Importance of Diabetes Care and Treatment
Diabetes awareness is necessary if one is to manage the disease and stay healthy. Unfortunately, many people do not find out they have diabetes until they are treated for another health condition caused by diabetes. Knowing one has diabetes makes it possible to take steps to reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related conditions. If you are at risk for developing diabetes or are experiencing symptoms of diabetes, it is important to visit your doctor for a complete evaluation.
People diagnosed with diabetes face the following health concerns:
- Increased likelihood of heart disease and stroke
- High probability of developing high blood pressure
- Diabetic retinopathy (blindness)
- Kidney failure
- Nervous system disease, mild to severe damage includes reduced sensation or pain in the hands or feet, slower food digestion in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, severe cases of nerve damage result in amputations of lower-limbs
- Dental problems, namely periodontal (gum) disease
- Pregnancy complications, including birth defects, spontaneous abortions, excessively large babies
- Sexual dysfunction
- Biochemical imbalances causing a diabetic coma
- Increases deadliness of pneumonia and influenza
Preventing Diabetes Complications
The complications caused by diabetes are not always inevitable. People with diabetes can usually reduce or prevent the damage that can be caused by diabetes if they work together with their doctor or other health care providers to control the disease. Treatment and care includes monitoring and keeping blood glucose levels, blood pressure and blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) at healthy levels. This is usually accomplished thru diet and nutrition, exercise and increased physical activity, and weight loss. It may also include medications such as insulin to control blood glucose levels or medication to control high blood pressure or cholesterol.