Show #265 Airing Sunday, August 1, 2004
Sugar and spice and everything nice. Well, the spice may be nice, but the sugar is killing us. Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It’s the leading cause of blindness, renal disease, and below the knee amputations. We need to get control of our blood sugar. With us today is Helen Dumski, program director at the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. She’s brought along a test to help us determine our risk of getting diabetes. And if you already have diabetes, she’ll help you manage it.
Question: How common is diabetes? Is it becoming more prevalent?
Answer: Diabetes is becoming more prevalent. Ohio ranks in the top ten states in occurrence of diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes. Type I begins earlier in life and has an acute onset.
Type II diabetes is the form that is becoming more prevalent, and accounts for 90% of those with diabetes. This form has a more gradual onset and is traditionally found in adults 35 and older. However, it is developing in individuals as young as their adolescence now, and is linked to obesity and inactivity. Other risk factors for Type II diabetes in adults are a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of Type II diabetes.
Question: What are some symptoms that might make you want to go see a doctor?
Answer: Symptoms include:
- Frequent urination
- Intense thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme tiredness and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Tingling and/or numbness in the feet and hands
Diabetes is sometimes called the “Silent Disease.” You don’t have to feel bad to have it, necessarily. But early detection is very important.
Question: If our answers indicate a risk of diabetes, should we see our doctor?
Answer: Yes. If 3 or more answers suggest a risk, call your doctor.
Question: What treatment is available? What are some complications that can arise if you’re not treated?
Answer: There are oral medications and insulin injections that can help control blood sugar.
However, the challenging part of diabetes is the most successful treatment requires a lifestyle change: controlling eating and increasing physical activity. These behaviors are most often well-established and difficult to change.
Complications that can arise is blood sugar is not controlled include:
- Eye problems—leading cause of new blindness in adults.
- Loss of feeling in hands and feet.
- Also affects the blood vessels, nerves, heart and kidneys.
Question: What support is out there for those with diabetes?
Answer: The Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland offers a variety of community programs, often at health fairs and senior centers.
We will be st arting a four-week long Diabetes Management class (often covered by Medicare with a physician’s referral) that can help you adapt to the necessary lifestyle changes, use of medication, blood glucose monitoring, etc.
We encourage increased physical activity (Diabetes Walk in the fall).
We can do a diabetes risk assessment if you think you may be at risk.
So how’d you do on the test? If you’re at risk for diabetes, see a doctor. Lifestyle changes can produce lifesaving results. For more information, or to join the Diabetes Management class, give a call to the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. My thanks to Helen Dumski.
