Definition is a disease in which the body has problems producing or using insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other into energy. Compared to the general population, African Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes: • 4.9 million (an increase from 3.7 million in 2007), or 18.7% of all African Americans, aged 20 years or older, also have diabetes. • African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes as non Hispanic whites. • 25 percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have diabetes. • 1 in 4 African American women over 55 years of age has diabetes. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications, and certain populations experience an even greater threat. Good diabetes management can help reduce your risk; however, many people are not even aware that they have diabetes until they develop one of its complications. • Blindness. African Americans are almost 50 percentas likely to develop diabetic retinopathy as non-Hispanic whites. • . African Americans are 2.6 to 5.6 times as likely to suffer from kidney disease with more than 4,000 new cases of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) each year. • Amputations. African Americans are 2.7 times as likely to suffer from lower-limb amputations. Amputation rates are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes. • and Stroke. Heart disease and stroke account for about 65 percent of deaths in people with diabetes. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher and the risk of death from stroke is 2.8 times higher among people with diabetes. Alternative Names Noninsulin-dependent diabetes; Diabetes – type 2; Adult-onset diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although excess weight andinactivity seem to be contributing factors. Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas, a gland situated just behind and below the stomach. When you eat, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. As insulin circulates, it acts like a key by unlocking microscopic doors that allow sugar to enter your cells. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas. Glucose — a sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. Glucose comes from two major sources: the food you eat and your liver. After intestinal digestion and absorption, sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. Normally, sugar then enters cells with the help of insulin. The liver acts as a glucose storage and manufacturing center. When your insulin levels are low — when you haven’t eaten in a while, for example — the liver metabolizes stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucoselevel within a normal range. High blood sugar levels can cause several symptoms, including: • Blurry vision • Excess thirst • Fatigue • Frequent urination • Hunger • The fasting blood glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes in children and nonpregnant adults. The test is most reliable when done in the morning. However, a diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on any of the following test results, confirmed by retesting on a different day: • A blood glucose level of 126 milli grams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher after an 8-hour fast. This test is called the fasting blood glucose test. • A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher 2 hours after drinking a beverage containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. This test is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). • A random —taken at any time of day—blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher, along with the presence of diabetes symptoms. • Gestational diabetes is diagnosedand itching in other parts of the body. • Diabetes may make it harder to control your blood pressure and cholesterol. This can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other problems. It can become harder for blood to flow to your legs and feet. • Nerves in the body can become damaged, causing pain, tingling, and a loss of feeling. • Because of nerve damage, you could have problems digesting the food you eat. You could feel weakness or have trouble going to the bathroom. Nerve damage can also make it harder for men to have an erection. • High blood sugar and other problems can lead to kidney damage. The kidneys might not work as well, and they may even stop working. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 if you have: • Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, or other signs of angina • Loss of consciousness • Seizures Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. Also call your doctor if you have:• Blood sugar levels that are higher than the goals you and your doctor have set • Numbness, tingling, or pain in your feet or legs • Problems with your eyesight • Sores or infections on your feet • Symptoms that your blood sugar is getting too low (feeling weak or tired, trembling, sweating, feeling irritable, having trouble thinking clearly, fast heartbeat, double or blurry vision, feeling uneasy) • Symptoms that your blood sugar is too high (being very thirsty, having blurry vision, having dry skin, feeling weak or tired, needing to urinate a lot) • You are having blood sugar readings below 70 mg/dL You can treat early signs of hypoglycemia at home by eating sugar or candy, or by taking glucose tablets. If your signs of hypoglycemia continue or your blood glucose levels stay below 60 mg/dL, go to the emergency room. Recent studies have proven that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can often prevent or delay the onset of diabetes with 30 minutes of physicalactivity 5 days a week and by losing 5 to 7% of their body weight. In other words, you don’t have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps lead to big rewards. Here are some tips that might help. Easy steps to increase activity: • Put away the TV remote control and get up to change the channel. • Try walking around the house while you talk on the phone. • Park the car farther away from stores, movie theaters or your office. • Get off the bus one stop early, if you are in a safe place to walk. • Visit museums, the zoo or an aquarium. These are great ways to be active with your family. Eat right. Try some of these tips to get started: • You don’t have to cut out the foods you love to eat. Just cut down on the amount you eat, and eat them less often. • Try to keep meat, poultry and fish servings down to three ounces – that’s about the size of a deck of cards. • Try to eat three sensible meals at regular times throughout the day. • Eatmore fresh fruit, veggies, nuts and whole grains. • Limit fried foods. Baking and broiling are healthier ways to eat meat, chicken and fish. • When eating out, share large portions. Diabetes requires regular blood sugar tests and medical intervention. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful. What You Need To Know: • Go for the chromium Under the supervision of a doctor, take 200 mcg a day of this essential trace mineral to improve glucose tolerance • Fight back with fiber Under a doctor’s supervision, stabilize your blood sugar by eating fiber from whole grains, beans (legumes), vegetables, and fruit, and consider using a fiber supplement such as psyllium or guar gum • Protect with alpha lipoic acid Protect against diabetic complications, such as nerve and kidney damage, by taking 600 to 1,200 mg of this supplement per day • Discover EPO Help relieve pain from diabetic neuropathy by taking 4 grams of evening primrose oil supplementsper day • Get to know niacinamide Talk to a knowledgeable healthcare provider to determine if taking large amounts of the supplement niacinamide might prevent or limit the severity of type 1 diabetes in your family. These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full diabetes article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.
