Warning Signs
Anyone can develop diabetes at any age, according to the International Diabetes Federation. But there are risk factors to watch for, and getting regular check-ups with the doctor could detect warning signs. Many times people have diabetes without even knowing it. Complications can develop by that time, including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke or nerve damage. A person who does not regularly check cholesterol count and blood pressure could be risking diabetes. If your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level is under 35, you have a triglyceride level 250 or above, or you have high blood pressure of 140 over 90 or higher, you should take steps to avoid diabetes.
Overweight
The older you are, the greater your risks get for acquiring the disease. Diabetes usually occurs in people over age 40, and the risk of acquiring it increases with age. However, it has been affecting children and adolescents more often in recent years. Obesity is a major culprit in diabetes. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Physical inactivity increases the risk of developing diabetes. This might be especially true for people over 40 who are sedentary and have been carrying fat around the waist for years. A family history of diabetes should also alert a person to the risks of getting the disease. Risks for diabetes are greater among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Type 1
About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The five to 10 percent who develop type 1 are mostly children and young adults, but it can still occur at any age. In this disease, the body's immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin, and a person with type 1 diabetes has to take insulin daily in order to stay alive. Sadly, scientists are not exactly sure why it happens. They believe that genetic and environmental factors, possibly viruses, are involved. Like type 2 diabetes, type 1 can cause destruction within the body years before there are symptoms. The symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision and extreme fatigue. It is very important to be aware of symptoms because type 1 diabetes can cause life-threatening diabetic coma if not treated.
