DIABETES

What is diabetes?
Diabetes (also known as diabetes mellitus) is a condition in which the body either can't make or can't use insulin properly.
Insulin is a hormone normally produced by the pancreas. Insulin is very important because it regulates the sugar level in the blood, and it allows the body to use this sugar for energy. Without enough insulin, the body's cells can't get the energy they
need, the sugar level in the blood gets too high, and many problems can result. Diabetes is not curable, but, fortunately, it is treatable.
There are two main types of diabetes. They are known as type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes) usually affects children and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes can't make insulin, so
they need to take insulin shots to stay alive.
Type 2 diabetes (also known as adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes) is much more common than type 1 diabetes.
In fact 90-95% of diabetes is type 2. This type of diabetes is more common in people who are over the age of 40 and overweight. It also tends to run in families. People with type 2 diabetes make some insulin but either it's not enough, or their
bodies just aren't able to use it properly. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar with diet and oral medication, but some people also need to use insulin shots.
There are many complications that come from diabetes and poor blood sugar control. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems, kidney disorders, blindness, and severe infections. They also have a higher risk of coronary heart disease,
stroke and certain cancers, like pancreatic and uterine cancer. Each year almost 200,000 Americans die from diabetes and its complication.

Another Type of Diabetes: Gestational Diabetes
About 3-5 % of women develop diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes. Usually a temporary condition that goes goes away after giving birth, gestational diabetes can nevertheless cause problems for both mother and baby. Some
complications include certain types of birth defects, abnormally large babies, and an increased risk of caesarian section.
Even if the diabetes disappears after the baby is born, women who have had gestational diabetes also have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

How common is diabetes?
Diabetes is very common in the United States. Almost 16 million people have it, and the numbers are growing. Most people with diabetes have type 2.

Who is at risk of diabetes?
Anyone can develop diabetes, but most people that have diabetes are adults over the age of 40, and the risk increases with age. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk of developing diabetes compared to whites. Also, people who are overweight, inactive, smoke or have family members with diabetes are at a higher risk.

How can you lower your risk of diabetes?
There are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes:
Maintain a healthy weight
Get regular exercise
Don't smoke
Eat a healthy diet that focuses on whole grains and "good" fats (like olive and canola oil)

Who should be screened?
Screening for diabetes is very important because millions of people have this disease and don't know it. Everyone age 45 and older should have their blood sugar checked by a doctor at least once every 3 years. People who are at higher risk may need to be tested earlier and more often. Screening is easy with simple blood and urine tests that can have important benefits. If you find out you have the disease, you
can take steps to treat it and prevent complications.

What are the symptoms?
Some people develop symptoms like strong thirst, increased feelings of hunger, frequent urination and wounds that don't heal. However, many people with diabetes have no symptoms. That is why screening is important.

For more information about diabetes, visit these web sites:
A Few Facts About Diabetes: Joslin Diabetes Center
Basic Diabetes Information: American Diabetes Association

Factors that increase a person's risk of Type 2 diabetes but cannot be changed include:
Age and diabetes
The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age, and it is most common in people over the age of 40.

Personal history of diabetes or high blood sugar
People who have had problems with high blood sugar in the past may be at higher risk of developing diabetes. Women who have had diabetes during pregnancy (called gestational diabetes) are also at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Family history and diabetes
A person with a close relative who had diabetes has a higher risk of developing the disease. This increased risk is probably due to a combination of shared genes and shared lifestyle factors.

Race and ethnicity
Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, compared to whites.

Most risk factors for diabetes can be modified to reduce risk, either through lifestyle changes or through medication, if needed.
These include:
Weight, waist size and diabetes
The risk of Type 2 diabetes goes up as body weight increases. This is especially true for people who carry extra body fat around the waist (called
"apple shaped"). Extra weight affects the body's sensitivity to insulin and it also puts extra strain on the whole body, increasing the risk of heart
disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight has been proven to decrease the risk of cancer of the colon,
kidney, breast and uterus.

Tobacco smoke and diabetes
Smoking increases the risk of diabetes. Smoking can increase blood sugar levels and decrease the body's ability to use insulin. It can also
change the way the body stores excess fat - increasing fat around the waist, which is linked to diabetes. The damage that tobacco chemicals do
to blood vessels, muscles and organs may also increase the risk of diabetes.
Tobacco exposure also increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, emphysema, bronchitis, osteoporosis, and
cancers of the lung, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, lip, mouth, tongue, larynx, throat and esophagus. For many people, quitting smoking is
the single best thing they can do to improve their health.

Physical activity and diabetes
Exercise is one of the best ways to help maintain a healthy weight, a key factor in lowering the risk of diabetes. Exercise also helps the body's
cells use insulin effectively, which makes it easier to control blood sugar levels. In addition, exercise also helps prevent other diseases such as
heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and colon cancer. Even just 30 minutes of moderate exercise (like walking) daily can decrease your risk of
disease.

Diet and diabetes
Diet can be a powerful tool for lowering the risk of diabetes. The best approach? Eat a diet that focuses on whole grains, cereal fiber, and liquid
vegetable oils and limits refined starches (like potatoes and white bread).

Alcohol and diabetes
Moderate alcohol (about one drink a day for women and two for men) has been shown to decrease the risk of diabetes compared to nondrinkers.
Limited use of alcohol may also decrease the risk of developing heart disease. However, it is not recommended that non-drinkers start
drinking. Alcohol use has many of its own risks like increasing blood pressure, body weight, heart failure, addiction, suicide and accidents.
People who limit their use of alcohol also have a lower risk of colon cancer, and breast cancer.

Info from : http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=show&quiz=diabetes&page=risk_list

Sources: NIOSH Info