What exactly is Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.

With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

Is there more than one kind of Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Visit the American Diabetes Association for more When your child is diagnosed with diabetes, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information you're given. This section will give you a quick overview of diabetes treatment. Managing diabetes is a matter of juggling three things: insulin, food, and exercise. All three have a major effect on diabetes management.

Managing Diabetes This section covers everything you need to know about managing your child's diabetes, from blood glucose checking to choosing an appropriate blood glucose meter.

Sick Days Find out how to take care of your child's diabetes along with his or her current illness.

Hypoglcemia Find out what causes hypoglycemia, how to treat it, and what can happen if overtreated.

Hyperglycemia Find out how to detect and prevent hyperglycemia.

Making Healthy Food Choices In this section, you will find information about making healthy food choices.

Exercise Learn about, overcoming barriers, getting started, different types of exercise, and why exercise is beneficial to your health.

Insulin & Medications This section covers the different types of insulin, insulin storage, administration, sharps, site rotation, scheduling, troubleshooting, and Alternative Insulin Delivery Systems.

Getting Good Diabetes Care Diabetes is not a condition that can be managed alone. Learn more about the first step in ensuring good, up-to-date diabetes care for your child.

Diabetes and your child

Diabetes care: 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications

Diabetes care is a lifelong responsibility. Consider 10 strategies to prevent diabetes complications

Here are 10 ways to take an active role in diabetes care and enjoy a healthier future.

1. Make a commitment to managing your diabetes. Members of your diabetes care team — doctor, diabetes nurse educator and dietitian, for example — will help you learn the basics of diabetes care and offer support and encouragement along the way. But it's up to you to manage your condition. After all, no one has a greater stake in your health than you.

Learn all you can about diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight. Use Supplements and specialized diets Monitor your blood sugar level, and follow your doctor's instructions for keeping your blood sugar level within your target range. Don't be afraid to ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan Blood sugar monitoring: Why, when and how

2. Schedule yearly physicals and regular eye exams. Your regular diabetes checkups aren't meant to replace yearly physicals or routine eye exams. During the physical, your doctor will look for any diabetes-related complications — including signs of kidney damage, nerve damage and heart disease — as well as screen for other medical problems. Your eye care specialist will check for signs of retinal damage, cataracts and glaucoma.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Diabetes checkups: Why you need them, how to prepare Eye exams: What to expect

3. Keep your vaccines up-to-date. High blood sugar can weaken your immune system, which makes routine vaccines more important than ever. Ask your doctor about:

Flu vaccine. A yearly flu vaccine can help you stay healthy during flu season, as well as prevent serious complications from the flu. Pneumonia vaccine. Sometimes the pneumonia vaccine is a one-shot deal. If you have diabetes complications or you're age 65 or older, you may need a five-year booster shot. Other vaccines. Stay up-to-date with your tetanus shot and its 10-year boosters, and ask your doctor about the hepatitis B vaccine. Depending on the circumstances, your doctor may recommend other vaccines as well.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Vaccines for adults: Which ones should you get?

4. Take care of your teeth. Diabetes may leave you prone to gum infections. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss your teeth once a day, and schedule dental exams at least twice a year. Consult your dentist right away if your gums bleed or look red or swollen.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Dental care and diabetes: Guide to a healthy mouth

5. Pay attention to your feet. High blood sugar can damage the nerves in your feet and reduce blood flow to your feet. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections. To prevent foot problems:

Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion. Check your feet every day for blisters, cuts, sores, redness or swelling. Consult your doctor if you have a sore or other foot problem that doesn't start to heal within a few days.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet

6. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Like diabetes, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. High cholesterol is a concern, too, since the damage is often worse and more rapid when you have diabetes. When these conditions team up, they can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions.

Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Have diabetes? Stop cardiovascular disease in its tracks

7. Take a daily aspirin. Aspirin interferes with your blood's ability to clot. Taking a daily aspirin can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke — major concerns when you have diabetes. In fact, daily aspirin therapy is recommended for most people who have diabetes. Ask your doctor about daily aspirin therapy, including which strength of aspirin would be best.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Daily aspirin therapy: Understand the benefits and risks

8. Don't smoke. If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your doctor to help you quit. Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney disease. In fact, smokers who have diabetes are three times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than are nonsmokers who have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Talk to your doctor about ways to stop smoking or to stop using other types of tobacco.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC Smoking cessation: Take it one step at a time Quit smoking: Practical strategies for success

9. If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly. Alcohol can cause either high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and if you eat at the same time. If you choose to drink, do so only in moderation and always with a meal. Remember to include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily calorie count.

10. Take stress seriously. If you're stressed, it's easy to abandon your usual diabetes care routine. The hormones your body may produce in response to prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly, which only makes matters worse. To take control, set limits. Prioritize your tasks. Learn relaxation techniques. Get plenty of sleep.

Above all, stay positive. Diabetes care is within your control. If you're willing to do your part, diabetes won't stand in the way of an active, healthy life. More on the 10 strategies. . . From the Mayo Clinic

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Even with positive advances and the ability to take charge of your diabetes care, you will still need to know a lot about diabetes, and yourself, if you want to live a life without limits.

The foundation of good diabetes management continues to focus on food, specialized diets, fitness, medication (if needed) and blood glucose monitoring. For your convenience, we offer diabetes care information so you can improve your quality of life with diabetes.

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