Diabetes

In everyone's lives there are events so powerful, that even 20 years later you can recall the date and the exact time this event touched your life. Such examples of this are the birth of your child or on a global scale, the World Trade Center attack. For me, August 19, 2006 at 11:10 pm, will forever be etched in my mind. This date stands out so prominently because this is the day and time I learned my son, my baby, was given a death sentence. This is when I was told my son had Type 1 diabetes. You see, at that time, my knowledge of diabetes was limited to what I saw in the movies. Movies such as Steel Magnolias. Now, if any of you have seen this movie, then you'll know that one of the main characters dies at a young age as a result of complications from diabetes. Since that time in 2006, my knowledge of diabetes has greatly increased and I wish to share with you what I have learned as a result. Today, I will discuss a few statistics attached to diabetes, then give a brief anatomy and physiology lesson and finally discuss the 3 forms of diabetes. According to 2011 data obtained from the American Diabetes Association, 26 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. Also, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in America. It is also estimated that 79 million people are pre-diabetic, which means that they are destined to eventually contract diabetes. Additional statistics by race show that: 7% of white Americans 12% of Hispanics Americans and 13% of African Americans are currently afflicted with diabetes. These percentages are staggering and the numbers are only expected to increase over time. Now, I will explain what diabetes is by providing a brief lesson in anatomy and physiology. We all need to eat food containing a source of energy. This energy comes in the form of carbohydrates. When you ingest carbohydrates, the body converts them into glucose and releases this glucose into the bloodstream. An organ in your body called the pancreas releases a hormone known as insulin which converts the glucose into usable energy. In someone with diabetes, this process is interrupted depending on which type of diabetes afflicts the body. Either the body doesn't produce any insulin, or the body is unable to properly use the insulin it produces. So, a person with diabetes eats the food, and the food is still converted to glucose, but there is no insulin available to convert the glucose to energy. As a result, the glucose remains unused in the bloodstream. With this knowledge in hand, I will now describe the three forms of diabetes. Type 1 or juvenile diabetes is the least prevalent form and comprises only 5-10% of all diagnosed cases. In this form of diabetes, the person inherits a genetic defect which causes the pancreas to stop production of insulin entirely. It is most often diagnosed in young children or in an adult as late as age 40. A type 1 diabetic must receive insulin on a daily basis for the rest of their lives in order to live. This insulin is either in the form of an injection or an insulin pump which feeds in small doses of insulin all day long. The second form of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes is diagnosed in some women during pregnancy and occurs more frequently among African Americans, Hispanic Americans and American Indians. It is also more common among obese women and women with a family history of diabetes according to the Center for Disease Control. Women who have had gestational diabetes have as much as a 50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. The third form of diabetes, type 2 or adult onset diabetes comprises 90-95% of all diagnosed cases and it is estimated that 2200 people/day are diagnosed with this form of diabetes in the US alone. The cause of this form of diabetes usually occurs in people that are overweight and physically inactive. In this form of diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin, but it either doesn't produce enough insulin or the body's cells have become insulin resistant. To control type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise is especially important. A weight loss of only 10-20 pounds can easily bring this form of diabetes under control. Diabetes is a disease that affects 26 million Americans, and with obesity sweeping the US, this number is on the rise. Today, I have provided you with a few statistics attached to this growing epidemic, provided a very simple lesson as to how the body uses food and insulin for energy and described the three types of diabetes. I hope that I have given you a better understanding of diabetes and help you realize that while not necessarily a death sentence, people need to approach weight gain and sedentary life styles with caution in order to avoid joining one of the 26 million diabetics.