Interesting facts about diabetes

June 10, 2009 | In: Medical facts

Diabetes is a syndrome of disordered metabolism resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels .

There are two major types of diabetes. In type 1 a hormone that enables the body to use glucose found in foods for energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. Type 2 diabetes is often initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary modification, medications are typically needed as the disease progresses.

Approximately 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood, although increasing numbers of children in high-risk populations are being diagnosed.

There are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5% from 2005-2007. Only 24% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 30% in 2005 and from 50% ten years ago.

Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, but type 2 diabetes has modifiable risk factors which can help you lower your risk for the disease. The number of people living with diabetes is expected to grow to 350 million in less than 20 years if action is not taken.

Risk factors for diabetes include being over 40, living a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, family history of the disease

Diabetes can leads to many complications i.e. blindness, gangrene, end-stage renal disease and lower limb amputation.