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Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which your body does not make enough insulin and /or doesn't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. It is used to break down sugar, starches and other foods into glucose. Glucose (blood sugar) is a major fuel source for the body and is found in the blood stream. In fact, glucose is the only fuel source that yields enough energy to maintain brain function.
With an insulin deficiency, glucose or blood sugar levels are too high. Diabetes is defined as fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dl or higher measured on two occasions. Have your blood sugar checked by a healthcare professional or at your physician's office. The American Diabetes Association recommends all adults monitor fasting blood glucose beginning at age 45. If you are at increased risk, or have symptoms of diabetes, have your blood sugar tested at a younger age.
If your blood sugar test reveals fasting blood glucose of 110-125 mg/dl you maybe classified as "pre-diabetic," meaning you may be on your way to developing diabetes. Lifestyle changes such as dietary modification and increased physical activity would be strongly recommended. Share your test results with your primary care physician so they can develop care plan that is specific to your situation.
Sweet Hearts Can Be Sick Hearts
Diabetes is a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes are two-to-four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes. Diabetes promotes a thickening of the arteries, causes nerve damage and decreases blood circulation which promotes clotting. It tends to decrease HDL- cholesterol (so called good type) and increase LDL-cholesterol (so called bad type) and Triglycerides. About 75 percent of people who have diabetes die from cardiovascular disease.
How Can Blood Sugar Be Controlled?
If you have Diabetes, you should be under a doctor's care. You should monitor your blood sugar regularly and comply with the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.
Education, diet and exercise, along with oral medication or insulin, are prescribed methods of treatment for blood sugar disorders. Diabetes is often called the "sneaky disease" because symptoms which frequently signal the presence of diabetes also may indicate a completely different problem.
Check with your doctor if any of these symptoms occur:
- Chronic or unusual fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent itching
- Slow healing of cuts or scrapes
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Constant hunger
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