Diabetes Frequently Asked Questions
Southeast Missouri Hospital Diabetes Center
#15 Doctors' Park
(573) 339-0121 toll-free 1-888-339-0121
Fax (573) 339-0223
Why do people develop diabetes?
Individuals develop diabetes because of their bodies’ inability to make any insulin, make enough insulin or use insulin properly.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, a gland in the body near the stomach. Insulin is necessary to change glucose (the body’s energy source) into energy. Glucose is a form of sugar made when the body digests food. When insulin is not available, glucose stays in the bloodstream and can’t be used as energy. Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes high blood glucose.
What are the main types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes
What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes) accounts for about 5 to 10 percent of all people with diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production in the body. Type 1 diabetes is insulin dependent.
Type 2 diabetes (formerly called mature-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes) can develop at any age, but most commonly becomes apparent during adulthood. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the majority of people with diabetes. Insulin resistance is the main characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Resistance develops because of a number of factors, including genetics, obesity, increasing age and having high blood sugar for a long time.
Is diabetes a major health problem?
Diabetes in the U.S. has reached near epidemic proportions. Between 180 and 194 million people worldwide have diabetes, with an estimated 20.8 million people in the U.S. Another 54 million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes, the stage before type 2 diabetes.
Will diabetes cause other health problems?
There are numerous complications that can occur from having high blood glucose. It can affect your heart, eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves, emotional health and sexual function. Getting control of blood glucose can slow the progression of these problems and prevent them if they have not occurred.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Some people have many symptoms of diabetes and others have none at all. Common symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, dry mouth, itchy skin, numbness and tingling in hands, legs and feet. Frequent urination and thirst also may be present. A simple blood test is used to measure blood glucose levels and identify the presence of diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes and how is it different from diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is the state that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. About 11 percent of people with pre-diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program standard or control group developed type 2 diabetes each year during the average 3 years of follow-up. Other studies show that many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes in 10 years.
Is pre-diabetes the same as Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose?
Yes. Doctors sometimes refer to this state of elevated blood glucose levels as Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose (IGT/IFG), depending on which test was used to detect it.
What is the treatment for pre-diabetes?
Treatment consists of losing a modest amount of weight (5-10 percent of total body weight) through diet and moderate exercise, such as walking, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Don't worry if you can't get to your ideal body weight. A loss of just 10 to 15 pounds can make a huge difference. If you have pre-diabetes, you are at a 50 percent increased risk for heart disease or stroke, so your doctor may wish to treat or counsel you about cardiovascular risk factors, such as tobacco use, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Who should get tested for pre-diabetes?
If you are overweight and age 45 or older, you should be checked for pre-diabetes during your next routine medical office visit. If your weight is normal and you're over age 45, you should ask your doctor during a routine office visit if testing is appropriate. For adults younger than 45 and overweight, your doctor may recommend testing if you have any other risk factors for diabetes or pre-diabetes. These include high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, or belonging to an ethnic or minority group at high risk for diabetes.