Syndication News Column:
Diabetes

(This image was provided courtesy by Tumisu from Pixabay.)

The need to help people with diabetes has been – and is – critical throughout the United States.

“Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high,” stated The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.  “Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat.  Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy.  Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough – or any – insulin or doesn’t use insulin well.  Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.”

There are several types of diabetes – Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes.

“If you have Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas isn’t making insulin or is making very little,” detailed the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  “If you have Type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin;  this is called insulin resistance.  Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond.”

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a substantially higher risk
for diabetes among Americans with certain racial and ethnic backgrounds, including individuals with Native
American, Alaskan Native, African American, and Hispanic American heritage.  (This graph was provided
courtesy of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

“Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes,” according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Amputations are one of the unfortunate consequences that can occur because of diabetes.  While the statistics vary from different sources, the overall impact of diabetes on levels of amputations is without question.

“People with diabetes comprise approximately 5% of the population, but account for 50% of all non-traumatic lower extremity amputations,” noted a statement issued by the United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2001.

The statement continued by detailing that “According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, between 1993 and 1995, about 67,000 amputations were performed each year among people with diabetes.  In 1999, this number increased to 86,000.  Amputees with diabetes have a 50% chance of bilateral amputation after 5 years, often as a result of increased wear on the remaining limb.  Of greater concern, the 3-year survival rate after one major lower extremity amputation is only 50%, and the 5-year survival rate is approximately 40%.”

According to Ms. Melanie Miller, Senior Research Specialist at the Amputee Coalition, approximately “900,000 people are living with limb loss related to vascular diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes” in the United States.

That number is anticipated to grow to more than 1.6 million Americans by 2050, according to Estimating the Prevalence of Limb Loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050, a research report written by Dr. Kathryn Ziegler-Graham, Dr. Ellen MacKenzie, Ms. Patti L. Ephraim, Dr. Thomas G. Travison, and Dr. Ron Brookmeyer.

The Congressional Diabetes Caucus, composed of 317 members (a substantial majority of the members) of the United States Congress, noted on its website that “Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations.  More than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes.  In 2006, about 65,700 nontraumatic lower-limb amputations were performed each year among people with diabetes.”

Beyond affecting pregnant women and impacting the levels of amputations, diabetes is a major cause of death.

The United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported that diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death overall, with a total of 83,564 people dying because of diabetes in the United States during 2017.

There are a number of risk factors for diabetes.

“You are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes,” according to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases “if you are overweight or obese;  are age 45 or older;  have a family history of diabetes;  are African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander;  have high blood pressure;  have a low level of HDL (‘good’) cholesterol or a high level of triglycerides;  have a history of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more;  are not physically active;  have a history of heart disease or stroke;  have depression;  have polycystic ovary syndrome NIH external link, also called PCOS;  [and/or] have acanthosis nigricans – dark, thick, and velvety skin around your neck or armpits.”

You can take the Diabetes Risk Test, provided by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases by clicking here.

According to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “The key to eating with
diabetes is to eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups, in the amounts your meal plan outlines.” 
Among other foods, non-starchy vegetables recommended for people with diabetes include “broccoli, carrots,
greens, peppers, and tomatoes.”  (This photograph was provided courtesy by Ms. Jacqueline Sosa from Pixabay.)

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reported that there “are some things you can change to lower your risk” of Type 2 Diabetes:  “Lose weight and keep it off.  You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your starting weight.  For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose about 10 to 14 pounds.”

In addition, the Institute recommended that you “Move more.  Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week.  If you have not been active, talk with your health care professional about which activities are best.  Start slowly to build up to your goal.”

“Eat healthy foods most of the time,” is another recommendation of the Institute.  “Eat smaller portions to reduce the amount of calories you eat each day and help you lose weight.  Choosing foods with less fat is another way to reduce calories.  Drink water instead of sweetened beverages.”

Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?

A street name?  A building?

Your questions may be used in a future news column.

 Contact Richard McDonough at chroniclesofgrantcounty@gmail.com.

© 2019 Richard McDonough