COLLEGE STATION — Diabetes is a silent killer — a chronic disease that has no cure. It is the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the United States, but, in most cases, it can be controlled.
Every 60 seconds at least one person is diagnosed with diabetes, according to Bob Briggs, vice president of marketing with the American Diabetes Association-Texas Affiliate. About 65,000 people will be diagnosed this year. In Texas, one in 14 adults over 23 years old in the general population and one in nine adults in the Hispanic population have diabetes.
Unfortunately, more than 160,000 persons will die from this disease and its related complications this year, Briggs said. Part of the reason is that many people are unaware that they have diabetes until they develop one of its life-threatening complications.
“The first precaution individuals should take is to check with their doctors to determine if they have this disease,” said Dr. Carol Rice, health specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. “During the initial visit, a comprehensive medical history can uncover symptoms that will help establish the diagnosis in the patient with previously unrecognized diabetes.”
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life, she said. The cause of diabetes is a mystery, although both genetics and environment appear to play roles.
The two major types of diabetes are insulin dependent (type I) and non-insulin dependent (type II).
Insulin dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurring in children and young adults. People with type I diabetes must take insulin injections to stay alive.
Non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common type — about 95 percent of those who have diabetes have type II diabetes. It is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body’s inability to make enough or properly use insulin. People over 30 years of age who are overweight have a greater risk for developing this type of diabetes.
Persons with diabetes are at high risk of developing eye, kidney, nerve, cardiac and vascular complications, Rice said. Those with the insulin dependent type also have an increased frequency of thyroid disease, and all individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of infections.
When left untreated, diabetes can become life-threatening, Rice said. Some of the most severe health threats, according to American Diabetes Association, are:
* Blindness — Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people ages 25-74. Each year, 15,000 to 39,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes.
* Kidney disease — 10 percent of all people with diabetes develop kidney disease. In 1990, more than 13,000 people initiated treatment for end-stage renal disease (kidney failure) because of diabetes.
* Amputations — Diabetes is the most frequent cause of non- traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of leg amputation is 27 times greater for a person with diabetes. Each year, 54,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes.
* Heart disease and stroke — People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease (more than 77,000 deaths due to heart disease annually). And, they are five times more likely to suffer a stroke, with more than 11,000 deaths each year.
“Individuals with diabetes type II can learn to control their illness by working with physicians, registered dietitians, nurses and diabetes educators to balance eating habits, physical activity and medicine, when necessary, around their everyday lives,” Rice said.
“The onset of this type of diabetes can be delayed and the necessity for medications can be reduced by maintaining a normal weight and engaging in a regular activity such as walking 20 to 30 minutes for four to five days each week.”
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