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I decided to write up a bit about my Diabetes, since a lot of people were surprised to hear about Diabetics having major problem with their feet and legs. It is a disease you really should know about, because you may know someone who could use someone to look out for them, or someday you may notice something that could indicate you have Diabetes. There are 4 types of Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes. I have type 2 Diabetes. I was diagnosed over 6 or maybe more years ago. My father, also a Diabetic, noticed I was thirsty ALL the time, and I was constantly peeing, so he checked my sugar level which at that time was around 600. Your normal number when you have not just eaten should be around 110. That is a good number. So I was sent to the MD's and had a bunch of tests and was diagnosed with Type 2. I have used most of my info directly from a Diabetes website, and included the links for certain things. So if you want to learn MORE, about even one condition or concern, you can just click on that one link. I hope SOME of you will show some interest and actually read this. Or if you really won't read any of it, if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. Because Diabetes has no cure, and it is not just our feet/legs we have to take special care of. And maybe if a friend or loved one gets this disease, you will want to know to look out for their feet, eyes, skin and other health concerns.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
- Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
- Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic. Type 2 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.
While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.
Conditions & Treatments
In type 2 diabetes, the body fails to properly use insulin, which is needed to take sugar from the blood to the cells. You can learn more about some conditions (including hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia) and how to prevent them in this section. You will also find helpful information about insulin, diagnostic tests and tips on what to expect from your health care provider.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can happen even during those times when you're doing all you can to control your diabetes. * I have this if not every day, at least every other day. It is one of the scariest feelings you will ever experience. You shake so badly and feel like passing, but you MUST stay awake.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a major cause of many of the complications that happen to people who have diabetes. For this reason, it's important to know what hyperglycemia is, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it.
What is Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)?
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome, or HHNS, is a serious condition most frequently seen in older persons. HHNS can happen to people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it occurs more often in people with type 2.
Managing Your Blood Glucose
Keeping your blood sugar as close to normal as possible helps you feel better and reduces the risk of long-term complications of diabetes. Learn about checking your blood sugar, tight diabetes control, and an A1C test.
About Insulin
In people with type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin.
Insulin Pumps
Learn how you can use an insulin pump to help manage your diabetes.
Other Medications for Type 2 Diabetes
The first treatment for type 2 diabetes is often meal planning for blood sugar control, weight loss, and exercising. Sometimes these measures are not enough to bring blood sugar down near the normal range. The next step is taking a medicine that lowers blood glucose levels.
Transplantation
Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant.
Related Conditions
Learn more about Agent Orange, hemochromatosis and frozen shoulder, and how they relate to type 2 diabetes, in this section.
Common Concerns
When You're Sick
Being sick can make your blood glucose (sugar) level go up very high. It can also cause serious conditions that can put you in a coma. The best way to prevent a minor illness from becoming a major problem is to work out a plan of action for sick days ahead of time.
Flu & Pneumonia Shots
Having the flu can be dangerous for anyone. But it is extra risky for people with diabetes or other chronic health problems.
When You Travel
Planning a trip? Whether you're camping or cruising, you can go anywhere and do almost anything. It just takes a little planning ahead to handle your diabetes.
Tips for Emergency Preparedness
Recent concerns about terrorist attacks have simply increased our awareness of the need to be prepared if a disaster strikes. People with diabetes must consider proper diabetes care when they make emergency plans.
Anger
Diabetes is the perfect breeding ground for anger. Anger can start at diagnosis with the question, "Why me?" You may dwell on how unfair diabetes is: "I'm so angry at this disease! I don't want to treat it. I don't want to control it. I hate it!"
Depression
Feeling down once in a while is normal. But some people feel a sadness that just won't go away. Life seems hopeless. Feeling this way most of the day for two weeks or more is a sign of serious depression.
Denial
Denial is that voice inside repeating: "Not me." Most people go through denial when they are first diagnosed with diabetes. "I don't believe it. There must be some mistake," they say.
Discrimination
Diabetes should not be a cause of discrimination in the workplace, daycare centers, or public schools. Our Legal Advocacy division fights to ensure that disabilities rights laws protect people with diabetes.
Your Body's Well Being
Make it a priority to take good care of your body. The time you spend now on eye care, foot care and skin care, as well as your heart health and oral health, could delay or prevent the onset of dangerous diabetes complications later in life. In addition, one of the best things you can do for your body is to stop smoking.
Heart Disease and Stroke
People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.
As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.
Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.
Oral Health & Oral Hygiene
If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk for gum disease and other mouth-related problems. Learn more about maintaining good dental health.
Kicking the smoking habit is hard, but worth the work. Tobacco has many bad health effects, particularly for people with diabetes. No matter how long you've smoked, your health will improve when you quit.
Alcohol
Alcohol is everywhere: at family gatherings, at cookouts, after the company softball game, and at parties. One very common question is "What would you like to drink?" If you have diabetes, what do you say?
Stress
Stress results when something causes your body to behave as if it were under attack. Sources of stress can be physical, like injury or illness. Or they can be mental, like problems in your marriage, job, health, or finances.
Women and Diabetes
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Today, almost 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes -- including 9.7 million women -- and almost one third of them do not know it. Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique, because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a ba
by born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes.
Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States, and it has no cure. For women who do not currently have diabetes, pregnancy brings the risk of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops
in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby weighting more than 9 pounds are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2-4 times higher among African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander women than among white women. The risk for diabetes
also increases with age. Because of the increasing lifespan of women and the rapid growth of minority populations, the number of women in the United States at high risk for diabetes and its complications is increasing.
ADA's Women and Diabetes Workgroup
Because of the significant impact diabetes has on women, the American Diabetes Association created the Women and Diabetes Workgroup. Its mission is to represent, involve, and affect all women in our efforts to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of people affected by this disease. This will
be accomplished through gender and culturally tailored strategies to direct the Association's activities and through targeted research, information, and advocacy efforts.
Read an overview (PDF) of how ADA is currently working to improve the lives of women with, and at risk for, diabetes.
To receive information about women and diabetes, call our Call Center at 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383).
To share your thoughts and ideas about how to best address women's health issues, contact the Workgroup by sending an email to askada@diabetes.org.
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7 meaningful meanderings:
Diabetes sucks. I'm sorr you have to deal with this.
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing that info. :)
I have diabetes too - and its a contant battle to deal with it.
For me there is a strong connection between depression and things going bad to worse - I cease caring about me and stop doing what's right - like eating properly and taking the pills and shots on time.
I hope you have a much better frame of mind and deal with yours much better than I do.
My grandma had diabetes.
And then she had a bypass. I'm pretty sure it was the bypass. She's had a few surgeries, I can't quite remember.
But one of her surgeries actually made her diabetes go away.
No joke, her doctors ran tests and yep. It's very odd.
I've got diabetes on both sides of my family. My great aunt on daddy's side had it. Her's was drug controlled. She lost both legs and ended up dying due to complications of the disease. My gramma on my mom's side had it. Her's was food regulated. My daddy has a neuropathy in his legs due to diabetes. I've yet to be diagnosed.
My best friend's brother has diabetes. Reading this post made me feel more informed!
Thank you!
Is it possible to have diabetes from being over weight and then not having diabetes after dropping a lot of weight? I thought I've heard of this before. My mom said it wasn't possible but I just wanted to make sure.
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