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. 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.

About 17 million people in the United States (6.2 percent of the population) have diabetes. About 11.1 million have been diagnosed, but 5.9 million people (one-third) are unaware that they have the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Credits: CBS News, American Diabetes Association

Type I Diabetes

Type I diabetes is a disease that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, known as islet cells. The islet cells inside the pancreas are burned out and they must have insulin to stay alive.

Type II Diabetes

In Type II diabetes, people have insulin, generally speaking, but their body doesn't use it well. It's very inefficient. The result, though, is still too much sugar in the blood.

Type II diabetes used to be called "adult onset diabetes," but it no longer can be called that because overweight children are getting it as well. Type II is linked to the obesity epidemic.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes affects about 4 percent 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 II diabetes. It is estimated that at least 16 million Americans have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 17 million with diabetes.

Symptoms

The following are symptoms to look for, in case you suspect you might have diabetes:

Fatigue

Trouble with cuts that don't heal well

Excessive thirst

Unexplained weight loss

Blurred vision

Frequent urination

Any of these symptoms should prompt you to get to your doctor and be screened for diabetes.

Risk Factors

The following are risk factors for developing diabetes. It's also recommended that high-risk children who are obese and have other risk factors be screened now, too.

Obesity

Inactivity

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

A family history of diabetes

High-risk ethnic groups include African-Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics.

History of gestational diabetes

Prevention

The best way to prevent diabetes is through good diet and regular exercise. The earlier in life you develop good habits, the better.

Type II diabetes develops gradually over time, and there are many people at risk who may be completely unaware that they're headed for trouble. So the idea is to make lifestyle changes now so you don't get in trouble farther down the road.

Treatment

In all forms of diabetes, levels of sugar in the blood are too high. So the primary goal of diabetes treatment is to bring sugar levels down to as close to normal as is safely possible. Most aspects of a diabetic's treatment plan (measuring sugar levels, taking diabetes pills or insulin shots, exercising, losing weight, planning meals) are aimed at helping him reach his target sugar level.

High sugar levels can affect many parts of the body. They can lead to eye, nerve, and kidney diseases. High sugar levels also make it easier to get infections. They can blur your vision or make you feel tired or thirsty all the time.

People with diabetes also are more likely to develop other health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and fat levels, and heart disease.

Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant. There are also pancreas transplants, as well as islet cell transplants.

Complications

Heart Disease: Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.

Eye Care and Retinopathy; Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save sight.

Kidney Disease: Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.

Neuropathy and Nerve Damage: One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.

Skin care: As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.

Foot care: People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor.

Oral health: With diabetes comes a higher risk for gum disease and other mouth-related problems.