By Michelle Moskowitz
Sentinel Correspondent
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies.
When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should.
There are some staggering statistics on this prevalent condition: 29.1 million people have diabetes in the United States. That’s about 1 out of every 11 people.
Eighty-six million people have prediabetes, a condition likely to lead to diabetes if not addressed, and 9 out of 10 do not know they are pre-diabetic.
In Connecticut, diabetes health care costs are estimated at $4 million per year.
Last week, Greenwich Hospital’s Diabetes Health Fair, “Journey from Prevention to Management,” provided residents with a wealth of information about meal-planning, self-monitoring, bariatric surgery, and new medications and treatments on the market today.
It also provided an opportunity to talk one-on-one with registered dietitians and diabetes educators. There was also a “healthy diabetic food” demonstration and tasting prepared by a certified diabetes educator and chef.
In addition to those resources, attendees received information and materials designed to prevent diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes: Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II (non-insulin dependent). Type I diabetes usually begins in childhood and is signaled by the body’s failure to produce enough insulin.
Type II Diabetes is far more common (90 percent of all diabetes cases) and growing in numbers with the vast increase in obesity in recent decades.
With Type II Diabetes, the body is able to produce insulin, but tissues develop a resistance to it, and blood sugar levels rise above normal causing damage to the body. Type II generally develops during adulthood and may go unnoticed for some time because many of the symptoms seem innocuous.
Symptoms often develop slowly and may include the following: increased thirst and frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss, itchiness, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing cuts or sores, and frequent infections.
If untreated, diabetes can lead to health crises such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputation, stroke, and even death.
Being tested for diabetes is quick and easy. Your doctor can collect a blood sample and check your blood sugar levels by using a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test.
Both types of diabetes can be managed with proper care and management by your doctor. Type I is treated by closely monitoring blood sugar and insulin shots, and Type II can often be controlled through healthy lifestyle habits such as weight loss, regular exercise, quality sleep and good, clean eating habits.
Ways to prevent Type II Diabetes include:
Eating a healthy diet. Eat small portions, more fruits and vegetables, and an intake of foods that are rich in fiber. Also limit your intake of salt, fat and sugar.
Being more active. Exercise can lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol; helps insulin work better, improves overall circulation and keep joints flexible.
Seeing your doctor. Getting regular check-ups by your family physician is key; but regularly scheduled visits to the dentist and an eye doctor are also very important as they can often signal diabetic issues such as blood sugar in the mouth and eye disease.
Foot care. Inspect your feet daily for sores or calluses, and see a podiatrist if one arises.
For more information about diabetes visit www.diabetes.org, and for more informative seminars, support groups and local resources, particularly on prevention, visit www.greenwichhospital.org or call 203-863-3929.
It’s never too late to take control of your health.
