November is National Diabetes Month
 

This disease certainly exacts its toll on our country; physically, emotionally and financially. Yet most Americans still don't consider diabetes to be a very serious matter, perhaps thinking that this will happen to someone else, or it's up to someone else to find a cure. But diabetes can, more often than not, be avoided by many people simply by changing dietary and lifestyle habits. Even those who may be at a higher risk for developing this disease because of hereditary factors may significantly lower their chances by incorporating better foods and exercise into their daily lives.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce insulin, not enough insulin or does not respond to insulin. Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that regulates your blood sugar levels. Normally, insulin controls the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream and the rate at which glucose is absorbed into the cells, which use it to produce energy. In someone with diabetes, however, the glucose builds up in the blood instead of being taken into and used by the cells. This leads to hyperglycemia (abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood) which can then lead to damaged blood vessels possibly causing eye disease, heart disease, peripheral and autonomic nerve damage in the limbs and external organs (neuropathy) and kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy).

There are two major types of diabetes-Type 1 is referred to as insulin-dependent-diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and Type 2 is referred to as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Type 1 generally starts at an early age and is often thought of as an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Some experts believe this may result from an autoimmune response after a viral infection, although this has not been proven. 

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes, affecting about 90 to 95% of people with diabetes. In Type 2, the pancreas does produce insulin in small quantities, but not enough to fuel the cells. Sometimes, the cells may have also become resistant to the effects of what little insulin there is in the bloodstream. This type of diabetes usually began in later years, but now it is becoming more and more common in younger people as well.

Diabetes can affect people of all ages and races, but it is more common among Latinos, American Indians, African-Americans and American-Asians than Caucasians. Over the last 30 years or so, the number of African-Americans diagnosed with diabetes has tripled. The death rate for African-Americans with diabetes is 27% higher than the death rate for Caucasians who have the disease.

People with diabetes are subject to episodes of both high and low blood sugar. The symptoms of hyperglycemia (too much sugar) often include fatigue, a constant need to urinate, extreme thirst, constantly feeling hungry, loss of weight and problems with eyesight. Episodes of hypoglycemia (not enough sugar) are hunger, dizziness, sweating, confusion, palpitations, and numbness or tingling of the lips. If not immediately treated, hypoglycemia can lead to double vision, trembling, disorientation and even coma. However, it is important to note that many people with Type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at all, which is why it is important to get your blood glucose levels tested at least once a year.

While all the causes of why diabetes happens to begin with are still being explored, definite risk factors include poor dietary habits, being overweight, and lack of exercise. People who have changed some of these risk factors have often also successfully changed their "Pre-Diabetes" diagnoses. And many people who already have diabetes have certainly found that their disease is much better managed and kept under control by incorporating healthier lifestyle habits into their own lives. Whether diabetes is an autoimmune disorder or not, managing unresolved stress is always a great way to feel better all the way around, too.