Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Health Diabetes is on the Rise

Why is diabetes on the rise? The reason is simple, more people are obese, and there is a wide spread epidemic of 'out of shape' people due to a lack of exercise. The startling fact is that in the last ten years, diabetes rates have risen almost 70% in the 30 something age bracket. For those in the 40 something age bracket, the rise was 40%, and it was 31% for those in their 50's.

• Currently about 16 million Americans suffer from diabetes. This rate is expected to increase to 22 million by the year 2025!

• Diabetes is not just a disease that affects adults; inactivity and obesity are also causing a rise in diabetes among children.

There are two main forms of diabetes, which are called Type 1 and Type 2.

• Type 1 Diabetes normally affects only children. It is caused by an immune system defect that impedes the body's ability to create insulin. This is a chronic condition, which is treated with regular shots of insulin.


• Type 2 Diabetes, develops as a result of the body developing a resistance to insulin. While this can be a hereditary condition, it is most often caused by inactivity and obesity.

Children with diabetes have, traditionally, suffered from Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has always been considered a 'grown-up' disease. However, recent studies indicate that Type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic proportion among children.

• The number of children developing Type 2 diabetes has tripled in the last five years.
• Obesity is one of the leading causes of Type 2 diabetes. Current figures estimate that 11% of all children between the ages of 6-17 are clinically obese.

Diabetes is a serious, chronic, and possibly life threatening disease. In the U.S. alone, diabetes is:

• The leading cause of blindness.
• It kills almost 200,000 people a year.
• It greatly increases a person's risk of having a heart attack or suffering from liver failure.
• Diabetes can impair the circulatory system. This often resulting in limbs being amputated.
• Diabetes can cause gum infections that can result in you losing all your teeth.
• A third of all diabetics are unaware that they have the disease.

Worldwide, about 120 million people have diabetes.

The best means of finding out if you have diabetes is to have a regular physical. If your doctor suspects that you may be developing diabetes he will conduct an oral glucose tolerance test or a fasting plasma glucose test, in order to make a definitive diagnosis of diabetes.

Your blood sugar levels provide information that can lead to a definitive diagnosis of diabetes. There are also physical symptoms that can be indicator that you are developing diabetes. Consult your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms.

• Frequent urination
• Unquenchable thirst
• General lack of energy
• Numbness or tingling in your limbs
• Sores that take a long time to heal
• Blurred vision

Diabetes can cause a variety of eye diseases, many of which can lead to blindness.

• Diabetic Neuropathy, is a disease which affects the optic nerve. Once the optic nerve is damaged, it cannot be repaired. Prompt treatment, however, may prevent a further deterioration of your sight.
• Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of diabetes related blindness. It is a disease of the retina. It is painless and often has no symptoms until the condition is well advanced.
• Diabetics also have an increased risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma.

Tragically, one in five adults are considered to be clinically obese. When you combine those people that are overweight, with those that are considered obese, you find that over half of the U.S. population is in a high-risk category for developing diabetes. You are considered to be overweight if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 to 29.9. A BMI over 30 is considered an indication of obesity.

• Lose weight and exercise regularly!
• Eat a well-balanced, low fat diet.
• If you have high-blood pressure, take steps to lower it.
• Have your blood sugar checked regularly.
• Have an annual eye exam. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in America. However, if caught early enough, treatments are available that may preserve your sight.