According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million people with diabetes in the United States. There are an additional 57 million people with pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is when a person has a fasting glucose level between 100 and 125. A fasting glucose number over 125 constitutes full blown diabetes.

The four types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood. This type of diabetes occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin. A person with type 1 diabetes requires daily injections of insulin.

Type 1.5 diabetes, or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes, is diagnosed when an adult has diabetes but is not overweight, does not have insulin resistance, and antibodies are present that attack the beta cells. These individuals will eventually end up on insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, or Adult Onset Diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes. It occurs when the body doesn’t use insulin correctly. This type of diabetes can sometimes be treated by diet and exercise.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. About 4% of women have gestational diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. A person who was never diagnosed with diabetes but has high glucose readings during pregnancy has gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes:

Increased thirst

Frequent urination

Unexplained weight loss

Itching

Sores that don’t heal

Blurry vision

Irritability

Excess hunger

Risk Factors:

You are more likely to get diabetes if you have a family history of the disease, are overweight and sedentary, and have high blood pressure. Also if you are a member of the following ethnic groups your chances of developing diabetes are greater: Pacific Islander, Latinos, African American, Native American, and Asian.

Helpful Information:

http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_types/diabetes_type_15.php

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 2:11 pm.