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Nearly 1.5 million Texans are living with diabetes. Unfortunately, almost one-third of them don’t know it. You or someone you love could be one of an estimated half million undiagnosed cases. It’s time to take action and reverse those disturbing statistics. November is American Diabetes Month, a perfect time to learn about the threat of diabetes and what you can do to combat this disease.
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death and one of the most serious health problems in Texas. There is no cure for diabetes yet, but if detected early and carefully managed, diabetics can live healthy, active lives.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease affecting the pancreas. A healthy, functioning pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to help the body store and use sugar and fat from food. In diabetics, the pancreas is unable to properly use sugar.
Diabetes can lead to major complications with the body’s circulation and nervous systems, such as damaged limbs and organs, and blindness. Diabetics are also more prone to other serious health problems. For example, heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths and more than 60 percent of diabetics have high blood pressure.
There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational (occurring during a pregnancy). Type 1 diabetes makes up less than 10 percent of all cases and usually occurs before age 20. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin and require regular injections of the hormone. Type 2 diabetics produce some insulin, but it’s either not enough or doesn’t work properly. Seventeen million Americans have type 2 diabetes, making up more than 90 percent of all cases. This form of the disease usually doesn’t develop overnight. Doctors can often detect the likelihood of type 2 diabetes before the condition actually occurs.
If left untreated, diabetes can be life-threatening, so it is crucial to identify and diagnose it early and treat it properly. Education is the key to fighting this treatable disease. Today, most people who develop type 2 diabetes are over the age of 40, overweight and not physically active. Unfortunately, the number of children with this type of diabetes is on the rise due to fatty, high-sugar diets and less active lifestyles. To lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, carefully monitor your diet, exercise regularly, and keep cholesterol and blood pressure levels low.
How can I tell if I have diabetes?
If you, or someone you know, is currently suffering from extreme thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, and/or unexplained weight loss, you might have diabetes. It is a good idea to check with your doctor, who can properly diagnose diabetes and get you started on a path to better health.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you can manage it by maintaining a diet low in fat, salt and sugar. Doctors recommend daily physical activity, lowering your blood pressure, and taking medication as prescribed, to ensure your glucose levels stay within a safe range.
In Congress, we are working to do our part by increasing funding for diabetes research. The Senate has approved $1.8 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to conduct clinical research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment into several disease categories, including diabetes. The funds will also be used to transfer the knowledge gained from the program to health professionals, patients, and the general public, ensuring the research doesn’t sit on a laboratory shelf, but is translated into vital resources for the American people.
The 1.5 million Texans living with undiagnosed diabetes are 1.5 million too many. For more information about diabetes, contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES or visit its Web site at www.diabetes.org.