Upon reading all the information on diabetes.org Diabetes has changed drastically over the years. There are more people suffering from Type 2 than ever before. However, the treatment of Diabetes has improved. Today we have advanced blood tests and more efficient ways of delivering insulin, such as pumps that replace the need for constant injections.
Currently there are over 25 million people in the United States alone that suffer from a form of Diabetes. 7 million people out of that 25 million are living with Diabetes and are undiagnosed. In people over 20 years old 11% of women and 12% of men have Diabetes. The percentage more than doubles in people over 65 years old in which 27% of people have a type of Diabetes. The most astonishing statistic is the amount of people who are prediabetic. Almost 80 million people are at risk for developing diabetes. Trends we are seeing in the topic of diabetes are clearly related to social, environmental and economic factors. One out of three Americans is expected to develop Type 2 Diabetes by the year 2050.
Diabetes is a genetic trait; people who develop either Type 1 or Type 2 have the predisposition for the disease but environmental factors they have encountered determine which type they would suffer from. Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in children and young adults. Research says that exposure to colder weather, certain viruses, and early diets may be factors. Someone who suffers from Type 1 does not naturally produce insulin. Insulin is needed to convert glucose, starches and other foods into energy. Type 2 Diabetes is diagnosed later in life, and it is when the body isn’t producing enough insulin or the insulin that is being produced is ignored by the cells of the body. If Type 2 Diabetes is not properly taken care of glucose builds up in the body starving cells of energy and leading to future. When a person's blood glucose levels are higher than the normal but their levels are not high enough to be considered Type 2 Diabetes they are considered prediabetic. People who are prediabetics are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes and they may already be suffering from diabetic problems. Gestational Diabetes is Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It occurs when blood glucose levels become extremely high during gestation and the body is not able to make or use all the insulin that is needed to support her and the baby.
Treatment for Diabetes is generally similar for all the types. It includes; special meal plans, incorporation of different physical activities or exercises, and daily test and injections.