This Week At UMC

You are at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes (the most common form of the disease) if:

You are over 45.
You are overweight.
You don't exercise regularly.
Relatives have diabetes.
None of the above.
Correct Answer : All of the above.

You also are at greater risk for Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes if: * You have either low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or high triglycerides. * You are of a certain ethnic or racial heritage (such as African-American, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic American, etc.) * You are pregnant or recently delivered a baby. Another form of Type 2 diabetes is gestation diabetes in women; it occurs in less than 5 percent of all pregnancies and particularly is associated with delivering babies weighing more than nine pounds. About 90 percent of diabetes patients have Type 2 diabetes; it affects about 15 million Americans, according the American Diabetes Association. (www.diabetes.org) When you have type 2 diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin or it can't properly process the insulin it makes. Your body needs insulin to move blood sugar into the cells. Thus, with diabetes, sugar builds up in your bloodstream, which can create health problems -- including kidney failure, blindness and strokes in some cases. The exact cause of Type 2 diabetes is unknown. Even if diabetes runs in your family, it usually takes another factor, such as being overweight or having poor exercise habits, to trigger the disease. Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes and Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes include: unusual thirst; frequent urination; increased appetite; extreme fatigue; unusual weight loss; increased urination; and/or a feeling of edginess. Type 2 diabetes patients sometimes also report symptoms of: frequent or slow-healing infections of the skin, mouth, bladder or vagina; blurred vision; tingling or numbness in the hands or feet; and/or dry, itchy skin. But some diabetes patients have no symptoms at all. Thus, it's estimated that some 5.3 million Americans are not aware that they have the disease. To find out if you have diabetes, have your health care practitioner give you a blood test. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes can live happy, healthy lives if they follow a diabetes treatment plan to keep blood-sugar levels as close to normal as possible. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, the Association advises that you see your health care practitioner to receive a daily treatment plan. To avoid getting Type 2 diabetes: Maintain a healthy weight for your height; eat healthy foods; establish a regular exercise routine; don't smoke; and get regular medical checkups.

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