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Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.  An estimated 17 million people in the United States have diabetes, yet one-third of them don’t realize it.  As the number of obese Americans continues to rise, increasing the number of persons who are at risk for developing diabetes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared diabetes to be an epidemic.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that does not have a cure.  If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications, such as blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, heart disease, amputations and stroke.

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy.  It generally occurs in people with a family history of the disease.  People who are obese and do not get adequate exercise are also likely to develop diabetes.

Risk Factors

Individuals may be at risk for diabetes if they:

• Are overweight
• Get little or no exercise on a daily basis
• Are between 45 and 64 years of age (your risk is even higher if you are over 65)
• Have a parent or sibling with diabetes
• Are a woman who had diabetes while you were pregnant, or had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth
• Have low HDL cholesterol (less than 35)
• Have high triglycerides (greater than 250)
• Have high blood pressure (140/90 or above)

A simple blood test, called a blood glucose screening, can determine if you are at risk for diabetes.  All adults age 45 and over should have their blood glucose tested every three years to determine if they are at risk for developing diabetes.  Often, individuals have diabetes and don’t know it.

Warning Signs

Warning signs for diabetes are frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, irritability, frequent infections, cuts and bruises that heal slowly, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections.

Individuals with Type II diabetes often have only mild symptoms of the disease, which may cause them to be overlooked as signs of a serious illness.

Individuals can reduce their risk of developing diabetes with lifestyle changes.  These include following a low-fat, high-fiber diet and exercising, such as walking 30 minutes on most days of the week.  Individuals who are overweight are encouraged to lose weight to reduce their risk of developing diabetes.