Diabetes Awareness

  • Published
  • By Marilyn Leggett, RN
  • Civilian Health Promotion Service
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  November is American Diabetes Month and The American Diabetes Association reports that 20.8 million individuals in the United States have diabetes. Approximately 6.2 million are unaware that they have the disease. 

Diabetes is a serious illness in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play a part. 

Dr. Jack Smith, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Clinical and Program Policy and Acting Chief Medical Officer for Tricare, states that there are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational. 

Type 1 is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. A person with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily. Gestational diabetes may develop during pregnancy. This sometimes occurs in women older than 25, or with a family history of diabetes and/or obesity. 

Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In this type, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond to insulin. Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are an estimated 41 million Americans who have pre-diabetes in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes tends to be more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. 

Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. and has no cure; almost 210,000 people die each year. Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Symptoms may include: Frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss or gain, increased fatigue, irritability and blurred vision. Diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, strokes, kidney failure and amputations. 

People with pre-diabetes may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by increasing their level of physical activity and making changes in diet. Research has shown that many individuals with a family history of type 2 diabetes believe that it is inevitable for them to have it as well. In many cases, it can be prevented. Moderate daily physical activity coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight can produce results. 

The National Diabetes Education Program has a national diabetes prevention campaign called "Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes." It is located at http://ndep.nih.gov/campaigns/Small Steps_index.htm. The site targets a variety of populations such as the aging, at-risk ethnic groups, and families. Materials are available for free or minimal cost and most can be downloaded. 

Civilian Health Promotion Service, CHPS, provides a free, annual health screening for Eglin Department of Defense civilian employees. The screening is used to provide information about basic cardiac risk and includes total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. The blood test is done with a simple finger stick with results completed in 5 minutes. Also measured during the screening is blood pressure and body mass index. These numbers allow  identification of potential problems so that early interventions can be started. The voluntary service may be done individually at the CHPS office located in Building 843 or in groups at the workplace. 

More prevention and wellness ideas can be found on www.afmcwellness.com, the official AFMC wellness and safety website. Call CHPS at 883-8024 to find out more.