Diabetes is a condition in which a person may not be able to make enough insulin to break down glucose or sugar for energy, or his body cannot use existing insulin efficiently enough. This results in high blood sugars. Almost 8 percent of the population in the U.S. has diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Symptoms
When a person has diabetes, her blood sugar rises. This leads to certain telltale signs. She may feel an increased need to urinate, increased thirst, fatigue or decrease in appetite. These symptoms can be missed because sometimes, they can be mild if blood sugars are not running too high or are erratic. They also may be mistaken for other health conditions. Others with diabetes may seem more irritable or tired. In Type 2 diabetes, people may have blurred vision or increased bladder infections. It is important to get screened for diabetes if there is a risk.
Types
Diabetes comes in three forms. Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, is when the pancreas does not make insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common and is closely related to lifestyle factors. It begins with the body not using insulin efficiently enough, and progressing to the body not secreting enough insulin. In less-severe cases, type 2 diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise. Gestational diabetes is diabetes women get during pregnancy, but that goes away after the birth.
Risk Factors
Type 2 diabetes is the most common. Being older, overweight and inactive are the biggest risks. Other high-risk characteristics include having a family history of diabetes, being an Alaska native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander. People who have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease are also more at risk for developing diabetes.
Diagnostic Tests
According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, three tests are used to diagnose diabetes, including a fasting blood sugar test, which is taken after a person has fasted from food and drink for eight hours. A random blood sugar test is taken after a person eats. An oral glucose tolerance test is done after a person has fasted for eight hours, in which a special drink is given that has a specific amount of glucose in it. Blood sugar is then tested. Your doctor may decide to use one or more of these tests, depending on your condition, to determine a diagnosis of diabetes.
After Diagnosis
After diabetes is diagnosed, it is important to follow up with a physician or endocrinologist regularly. Either may recommend that blood sugar measurements be taken at home at particular times using a glucometer. In addition, either may recommend that a patient exercise regularly. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, some are put on oral medications or insulin. Most importantly, dietary recommendations can be made by the physician or by a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
