Diabetes

NIH - Diabetes

"Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause other health problems such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. You can take steps to prevent or manage diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Statistics Report, an estimated 38.4 million people in the United States, or 11.6% of the population, have diabetes. About 1 in 5 adults with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. An estimated 97.6 million American adults have prediabetes, which means their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes."

For a comprehensive source of information regarding diabetes, this compendium from the National Institute on Health will provide extensive information on the subject.

Cleveland Clinic - Diabetes

"Diabetes is a common condition that affects people of all ages. There are several forms of diabetes. Type 2 is the most common. A combination of treatment strategies can help you manage the condition to live a healthy life and prevent complications."

This article from the Cleveland Clinic addresses the symptoms, causes, the diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes. It also addresses both the prevention of and the prognosis of living with diabetes.

Mayo Clinic - Diabetes

"Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues. It's also the brain's main source of fuel.

The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.

Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes happens when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But the blood sugar levels aren't high enough to be called diabetes. And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born."

Mayo Clinic addresses diabetes the symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications and the prevention of diabetes.

Diabetes in Older People

"Diabetes is a serious disease that affects many older adults. Diabetes occurs when a person’s blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. The good news is that you can take steps to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disease to develop in older adults. If you already have diabetes, there are ways to manage the condition and help prevent diabetes-related health problems."

What is diabetes?

Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. Our bodies can make glucose, and glucose also comes from the food we eat. To use glucose as energy, the body needs insulin, a hormone that helps glucose get into cells. If you have diabetes, your body may not make enough insulin, use insulin in the right way, or both. That can cause too much glucose to stay in the blood, which can cause health problems over time.

A comprehensive introduction into diabetes provided by NIH's National Institute on Aging. If you are not very familiar with diabetes, this is an excellent resource to better help you understand this life changing disease.

The Early Signs of Diabetes You Can’t Ignore

Nearly a quarter of Americans with diabetes are undiagnosed. Are you one of them?

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37.3 million people in the United States have diabetes, but nearly a quarter of them (8.5 million) are undiagnosed.

What’s more, over a third of U.S. adults (96 million) have prediabetes, including 26.4 million people over the age of 65. Prediabetes is a condition that can lead to diabetes.

Untreated diabetes is associated with serious complications like heart disease, nerve damage, and eye problems (including blindness).

That’s why it’s so important to know the risk factors and warning signs of type 2 diabetes—and to get screened."

This June 2024 article from SilverSneakers describes some of the early signs of diabetes that shouldn't be ignored.