Undiagnosed Diabetes: Could This Be You?

Diabetes doesn’t discriminate.  It doesn’t care if you’re black or white, rich or poor, young or old.  Diabetes needs attention, everyone’s attention.  Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes and approximately 5.7 million of these people have not been diagnosed.  In addition, another 57 million people have pre-diabetes.  Closer to home, more than 300,000 people in Northeast Ohio live with diabetes.   

Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn’t make insulin (insulin deficiency) or properly use insulin (insulin resistance).  When you eat, certain foods (carbohydrates) are broken down into glucose (sugar).  Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which moves glucose from the blood into the cells where it is used for energy.   When the body doesn’t make insulin and/or properly use insulin, blood sugars rise and diabetes is diagnosed. 

 

Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not quite high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.   Higher than normal blood sugar levels damage blood vessels and nerves.  This is what causes diabetes complications including heart disease and heart attacks, blindness, amputations, kidney disease and dialysis.  Early diagnosis is important to prevent these conditions from developing.

 Everyone is at risk of developing diabetes, but those with increased risk include:

• People with a mother, father, sister or brother with diabetes
• People with pre-diabetes
• Being overweight. As little as 10 pounds overweight increases your risk
• Little or no exercise or activity
• African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Americans and Asian Americans are at a much higher risk of developing diabetes
• Women who had diabetes during pregnancy or had a child weighing more than 9 pounds at birth
• Age. As you age your chance of developing diabetes increases

 Signs of diabetes include:

• Constant thirst
• Frequent trips to the bathroom; especially at night
• Increased hunger
• Constantly feeling tired
• Losing weight without trying
• Infections and cuts that heal slowly
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

Making small changes in your daily routine will bring big rewards in your health and happiness.  Your energy level will increase and you will notice improvements in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.   

Surround yourself with people and things that will help you accomplish your goals.  Try these simple things to get started.  Get up and get moving, literally!  Do some type of physical activity that increases your heart rate and causes you to break a sweat.  Pay closer attention to what you are eating, how much you are eating and why you are eating.  Begin eating smaller portions, use a smaller plate, decrease the amount of pop and fast foods that you eat and drink.  These changes need to be made to prevent pre-diabetes, diabetes and other conditions. 

Bring your family along with you on the journey.  Make time for yourself.  Make it fun.  Make the changes fit your lifestyle and your needs.   

Remember, it all starts with that first step; all you have to do is take it.  I hope you will take a moment for your health.  You are worth it!  For more information, call the Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center at 216.529.5300, or visit lakewoodhospital.org/diabetes.