It is estimated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other national diabetes organizations that there are six million Americans who are unaware that they have Type-2 diabetes, a serious disease with many potential health complications if left untreated – as is the case for those who don’t yet know they have it.
The symptoms of diabetes can be rather subtle in some instances and are therefore easy to ignore or just go unnoticed, but it is important to emphasize that the earlier in its development that the disease can be diagnosed the sooner treatment can begin, providing a better chance that further evolution to a more serious stage can be prevented. It is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time and also, there is no cure for diabetes.
It is not a symptom, but a primary category of people who should make themselves aware of their risks of becoming diabetic are those people who are overweight, and that includes about 60 percent of Americans. It touches all people, rich or poor, whatever social or economic strata, overweight is overweight, that is the major risk factor.
And being overweight to the extent of being obese is even more of a risk. A connection has been identified in which fat cells in the body release a protein that desensitizes liver and muscle cells to the extent that the body’s insulin, a hormone, is unable to perform its task of conducting blood glucose into the cells. The cells need glucose for use as a source of fuel in the production of energy to sustain the essential activities of life.
The above described series of events causes higher than normal blood sugar levels to occur and circulate throughout the body. By definition, diabetes is a condition of higher than normal blood sugar levels that if not brought under control will inevitably lead to serious consequences.
There is also a condition called prediabetes that, as its name suggests, has similar aspects of high blood sugars, and in many cases does lead to diabetes if allowed to develop without treatment.
It only takes a simple blood test, ordered by a doctor, to find out whether diabetes, or the prediabetes condition, is in fact, present in a person. Anyone concerned about the possibility should see a doctor. It is essential that all diabetic people be under the care of a doctor who can monitor, treat and advise the diabetic on this serious condition. In doing so the doctor may advise the adoption of lifestyle changes, perhaps involving diet, physical activity and weightloss, the main principles of controlling and managing diabetes. The doctor may also prescribe drugs of which there are several with a long history of use for diabetes.
Check here for further information on Normal Blood Sugar Levels and an explanation of diabetes.
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