National Diabetes Month: A Time to Learn About the Risks

Diabetes comes in two forms: Type one, or Juvenile diabetes and Type two. Type one occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar and starches into energy to fuel the body. It was most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults which is why it was formerly called Juvenile diabetes. Two-thirds of people who are diagnosed with Type one diabetes are under the age of 20. Type two diabetes, the most common, occurs when the pancreas makes too little insulin or the body is resistant to the type of insulin the body is making. When the body breaks down sugar and starches, they are made into glucose. Insulin takes the glucose from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the body instead of being absorbed into cells, this causes complications in the body.
According to Dr. William Malone, an endocrinologist at Saratoga Hospital, when blood-sugar levels are too high, this can cause problems with the eyes, kidneys and can lead to nerve damage which leads to infections that are hard to heal.
"The goal for a person living with diabetes is to consult with their doctor and find out what their body's normal blood-sugar level should be. With the proper care and successful diabetes management with a team of doctors such as a primary care physician, a nutritionist, an endocrinologist, a podiatrist (foot doctor), a nephrologists (kidney doctor) and an ophthalmologist (eye doctor), a person can learn how to live and deal with their case of diabetes on a day-to-day basis," Malone said.  
In many cases, diabetes goes undiagnosed because its symptoms can be very mild or there are no symptoms at all. People with a family history of diabetes or are overweight are at the highest risk of developing the disease, so tests should be taken to see if they have it and are unaware. Type one symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, unexplained weight loss and fatigue or irritability. Type two can have the same symptoms plus blurred vision, cuts or bruises that are hard to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, frequent infections and/or recurring skin, gum or bladder infections. In many cases, however, no symptoms are present. Type two occurs most often in adults and is diagnosed after the age of 20. Obesity or being overweight is one of the highest causes of Type two diabetes.
To treat Type one, insulin injections are needed. The amount of insulin needed is on a case-by-case basis due to the individual body's insulin needs. Type two diabetes may also require insulin injections but some forms can be treated with oral medications, Malone said.
"It is so important to have screens if someone thinks they may be at risk, and parents should screen their children if there is a family history of diabetes, especially Type one," Malone said. "Working with a physician can determine the proper blood-sugar levels for an individual, and it is important to detect the disease as soon as possible to prevent complications."
People living with diabetes need to be prepared at all times since glucose levels can drop unexpectedly. Glucose tablets or fast-acting sources of sugar such as juice, cake frosting, regular soda or hard candy can help revert hypoglycemia when blood-sugar levels drop too low. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shaking, sweating, pale skin, mood changes, jerky or clumsy movements, a feeling of lightheadedness, hunger, headaches and even seizures.
When diagnosed with diabetes, many people think that their foods will become restricted and they will have to kiss their favorite sweets goodbye forever. With a little planning, one can enjoy their favorite sugary foods - in moderation and by substituting the sugar for a carbohydrate food.
According to the American Diabetes Association, if a person with diabetes wants to have cookies with their lunch, they need to substitute for another carbohydrate-containing food. If the lunch is a turkey sandwich with two slices of bread, the steps they would take to make the substitution are as follows:
Identify the carb foods in your meal. Bread is a carb.
Swap two slices of regular bread for two slices of low-calorie bread (with 1¼2 the carbohydrate) and have the cookies--it's an even trade.
The total amount of carbohydrate remains the same for the meal.
With the proper knowledge, diet and team of professionals, anyone can lead a normal life while living with diabetes. For parents of children with diabetes it is important to remember to train anyone who will care for the child - babysitters, relatives, friends' parents - to treat diabetes and administer insulin shots in case of an emergency.
"Successful management of the disease will ensure that a person is healthy and happy. There needs to be a coordinated effort between the patient and the team of doctors with an emphasis on nutrition and prevention of complications for a person to stay healthy," Malone said.
Saratoga Hospital offers a diabetes Type two support series. For more information and how to join, contact the hospital at (518) 587-3222. For more general information about diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.