Diabetes And You Options

[NOSHADYLADY4]

Did you know that there millions of people out there who do not know that they are diabetic? They never think that it could happen to them or that it does not run in the family. But did you know that Diabetes is one of the "silent killers" of humankind?

Why silent? Because people do not get tested enough to find out if they carry it. People do not eat properly or get the right amount of exercise. Do you think you may have diabetes?

Diabetes symptoms vary somewhat, depending on what type of diabetes you have. If you have prediabetes or gestational diabetes, you may not experience symptoms. Or you might experience some or all of the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections, such as gum or skin infections and vaginal or bladder infections

Causes of type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, your immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses — attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Causes of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
In prediabetes — which can lead to type 2 diabetes — and in type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although excess fat — especially abdominal fat — and inactivity seem to be important factors.

Causes of gestational diabetes
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin. As your placenta grows larger in the second and third trimesters, it secretes more of these hormones — making it even harder for insulin to do its job.

Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can't keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood. This is gestational diabetes.

Every year as many as : 71,372 per year, 5,947 per month, 1,372 per week, 195 per day, 8 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second. Note: this automatic extrapolation calculation uses the deaths statistic: 71,372 deaths in USA 2001 (CDC); 68,399 annual deaths or 2.9% of deaths (CDC/1999).

Often times people do not even know that they are diabetic and die from complications...thus the "silent killer", just like heart disease and high cholesterol. Think you may have diabetes, get an early test...better safe than sorry! Want to know more about diabetes and death go to:

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/diabetes/deaths.htm

The results are startling!

[juan]

Thanks for this thread NoShadyLady. People do no realize how many are affected with diabetes every year. Most are like I never thought. It is so common I don't know anyone that doesn't have at least one person in their family that doesn't have it.