Diabetes can be a costly, dangerous chronic illness

  • Published
  • By Capt. James R. Hannum
  • 377th Medical Group
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Today, approximately 21 million adults and children in the United States have diabetes with one-third of these individuals unaware they even have the disease. The annual cost of diabetes in medical expenditures and lost productivity exceeds $132 billion and is increasing each year.

In an attempt to educate and inform people, November has been designated National Diabetes Awareness Month. The 377th Medical Group will present information throughout the month to educate individuals on the disease itself, how to determine if you have the disease, and how to manage the disease if diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is needed for your body to use sugar, the basic fuel for cells. Insulin works to open a cell's "door" to allow sugar to be burned as energy or fuel.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. With Type 1 diabetes, individuals do not or no longer produce insulin and require daily doses of insulin to survive. With Type 2 diabetes, individuals still produce insulin but the insulin they produce is resistant to cells. The Type 2 diabetic's insulin acts like the wrong "key" in the cell's door, thus preventing sugar from entering and being burned as energy or fuel. Approximately 95 percent of all diabetics have Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight and having a body mass index greater than 25 increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include a family history of the disease and being of Hispanic, African American, Indian or Asian descent.

Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise, taking oral medications, and/or insulin therapy. Unfortunately, the progression of diabetes cannot be stopped. However, early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes helps slow the onset of complications.

Warning signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) include thirst, frequent urination, feeling tired, blurred vision, and weight loss. Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include shakiness, sweating, lightheadedness, hunger, headache, mood or behavior changes.

If left untreated, diabetes can cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, amputations, nerve damage, blindness, and death. Decreasing body weight while increasing your activity level can help delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider regarding your risk factors for diabetes.

The medical group has a Living Well with Diabetes Support Group for all diabetics, family members or those interested in attending. The group meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Rio Grande Conference Center from 6-7:30 p.m. If interested in obtaining more information, please call (505) 853- 3234.