Diabetes & You

April is "National Diabetes Awareness Month". Did you know that 6.3% of the US population has diabetes?

With more than 18.2 million people in the United States having diabetes, it is truly an epidemic. And Type 2 diabetes makes up for 90% of diabetes cases. In the past, this disease has occurred in people over 45 year of age; but now, diabetes is exploding in people under the age of 18.

Forty cents of every dollar spent on healthcare is related to treating diabetes. In 2005, the cost to society to treat the disease was a staggering $132.8 billion dollars!

Warning Signs of Diabetes

Do you suspect you or someone you know may have diabetes? Here are some warning signs to watch for:

- Frequent urination
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections

Type 2 Diabetes

People with Type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body's cells can't use insulin the right way. Insulin is the body's hormone that lets blood sugar (glucose) enter the body's cells to be used for energy. When insulin is not able to do its job, the cells don'tt get the sugar they need, and sugar builds up in the blood. Over time, this extra sugar in the blood causes damage to your eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.

Complications of Diabetes

If left untreated, complications from diabetes - sometimes irreversible - can take place.

Heart Disease and Stroke
People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease. Annually, more than 77,000 deaths are due to heart disease. Heart disease death rates are also 200-400% more than for people without diabetes. People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to suffer a stroke.

Blindness Due to Diabetic Retinopathy
Each year, 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in people between the ages of 20 to 74 years.

Kidney Disease Due to Diabetic Nephropathy
Ten to 21 percent of all people with diabetes develop kidney disease. Accounting for 43 percent of new cases, Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (kidney failure). Kidney failure requires the patient to undergo dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live. In 1999, 38,160 people with diabetes initiated treatment for end-stage renal disease; and 114,478 people with diabetes underwent dialysis or received kidney transplants.

Nerve Disease and Amputations
About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetes-related nerve damage, which can lead to lower limb amputations. In fact, diabetes is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of a leg amputation is 15 to 40 times greater for a person with diabetes, with 82,000 patients losing a foot or leg to diabetes annually.

Impotence Due to Diabetic Neuropathy or Blood Vessel Blockage
Impotence afflicts approximately 13 percent of men with Type 1 diabetes and eight percent (8%) of men who have Type 2 diabetes. It has been reported that impotence rates are as high as 50 to 60 percent in men over the age of 50 who have diabetes.

Treatment Options for Diabetes Patients

There are options for those diagnosed with Diabetes.

Overall, lifestyle changes are better than drugs for the treatment of diabetes. In a study conducted at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Santa Monica, California, diabetic patients were asked to follow a simple diet and exercise program. After only three (3) weeks on this program, 70% of the subjects were able to get off their oral medication.* Thirty-six percent (36%) of subjects on insulin were able to stop taking the insulin* after three weeks.

While adjusting to changes in diet and healthcare needs can be difficult for some, there are many support groups and cooking and lifestyle classes available to help those with diabetes learn to co-exist with the disease and lead happy, productive, healthful lives.

*Always consult your care provider before changing, decreasing or stopping medication regardless of how you are feeling. The information contained herein is for informational purposes, and is not meant to replace a doctor's care.

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Edward J. Noa, DC, CCN, CHM, FLT
Dr. Noa's 21st Century Health
Napa & Fairfield, CA - USA

At Dr. Noa's 21st Century Health, we are committed to helping patients achieve maximum wellness without the use of harmful drugs, using an all-natural, holistic approach to health care.