Seriousness
of Diabetes
Source
: Canadian Diabetes Association
What every one should know about diabetes.
Diabetes is
a chronic disease that has no cure. It is a leading cause of death
by disease in Canada.
There are
three types of diabetes. Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (IDDM) occurs when the pancreas no longer produces nay
or very little insulin. Insulin is needed in the body to use sugar
for energy. Approximately 10 percent of people with diabetes have
Type 1 diabetes. The remaining 90 percent are affected by Type
2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin or when the body does not use the insulin that is produced
effectively. A third type of diabetes, gestational diabetes, is
a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. It affects
one out of every 20 pregnant women with 40 percent of those cases
developing into Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Complications
People with diabetes are at risk for developing a variety of complications.
Approximately 40 percent of people with diabetes develop complications
due to the disease. Through early diagnosis and intensive therapy
(close monitoring of blood glucose levels advocated by diabetes
health care practitioners following the 10-year Diabetes Control
and Complications Trial – DCCT based on Type 1 diabetes),
the onset of these complications can be delayed and / or prevented.
Possible complications include:
Microvascular
complications (small blood vessel damage)
Retinopathy (impairment or loss of vision due to
blood vessel damage in the eyes)
• Retinopathy is the sole cause of blindness in approximately
86 percent of people affected by younger onset diabetes (<30
years).
• 12 percent of all new cases of blindness are caused by
diabetes
• Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness
Neuropathy
(nerve damage and foot problems due to blood vessel damage to
the nervous system )
• 40 to 50 percent of people with diabetes are affected
by neuropathy
• Lower extremity amputation is eleven times more frequent
for people with diabetes than people without diabetes
• Diabetes is the leading cause (accounting for 50 percent)
of all non-accident-related amputations.
Nephropathy
(Kidney disease due to blood vessel damage in the kidneys)
Macrovascular
Complications (large blood vessel damage)
Cardiac
Problems
• The risk of cardiac heart disease and stroke is increased
by two-fold in men and
• Three to four-fold in women
Hypertension
(high blood pressure)
• Seniors with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hypertension
than those without diabetes.
Other
Complications
Infections
• People with diabetes are more susceptible to infections
of the mouth and gums, urinary tract, lower extremities and incisions
after surgery if blood glucose levels are not controlled.
Impotence
• 50 to 60 percent of men with diabetes experience impotence
• Some medications prescribed to control diabetes cause
impotence in some men.
Pregnancy
Complications
• 4 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes
mellitus (GDM); those women have a 40 percent chance of developing
Type 2 diabetes within 10 years of their pregnancy.
• Women with diabetes are two times more likely to have
a large baby than women without diabetes.
• Cesarean section are three to four times more likely for
pregnant women with diabetes
Diabetes
Risks and Symptoms
Risks
Although the causes of diabetes are unknown, there are several
factors that can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
For Type 1 diabetes the risk factors include:
• Race and ethnicity;
• Family history of diabetes; and
• Exposure to some viruses, such as Coxsackie B virus.
For
Type 2 diabetes the risk factors include:
• Family history of diabetes;
• Age (over 45 years old);
• Obesity (the number of people with diabetes in an unhealthy
weight range is double that found in the population without diabetes);
• Physical inactivity;
• Race/ethnicity (diabetes is more prevalent in people of
Aboriginal, African and Latin-American descent; and
• A previous diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance
Symptoms
People
with Type 1 diabetes usually experience the rapid onset of extreme
and urgent symptoms. Symptoms for Type 1 diabetes may include:
• Frequent urination;
• Unusual thirst;
• Extreme hunger;
• Unusual weight loss;
• Extreme fatigue;
• Irritability;
• Blurred vision;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting; and
• Sweet smelling breath.
People
with Type 2 diabetes can experience few or no symptoms of diabetes
and therefore the disease remains undetected. However, there are
a number of symptoms that may apparent:
• Any symptoms of Type 1 diabetes;
• Frequent infections;
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal;
• Tingling / numbness in the hands or feet; and
• Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections.
Diabetes
can be diagnosed through a routine blood test.
Education
Controlling
diabetes requires an around-the-clock commitment from the individual
with diabetes. The onset of complications due to diabetes (increased
risk of cardiovascular problems and stroke, eye problems and poor
blood circulation) can be delayed and even prevented through effective
diabetes management. Education is the key to understanding and
managing diabetes. Here are some facts on education:
• 30 percent of people with Type 1 diabetes and 70 percent
of people with Type 2 diabetes never receive appropriate diabetes
and self-care education.
• Intensive therapy (close monitoring and management of
blood sugar levels) slow the development and progression of the
complications (impairment of vision, nerve damage and kidney disease)
of Type 1 diabetes by 60 to 76 percent.
