Diabetes is a serious disorder that can lead to blindness, amputation, kidney failure, stroke, and heart attacks.  Marked by the inability to manufacture or properly use insulin, diabetes impairs your body’s ability to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.  The long-term effect is damage to the eyes, heart, kidneys, feet, nerves, and blood vessels.

Diabetes claims greater than 175,000 people each year  and there are more than  67,000 feet and legs amputated due to complications from diabetes.

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease and those  with diabetes are at a higher risk for having heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes may also cause blindness if not properly taken care of.  There is no cure for Diabetes, but with adequate exercise and proper nutrition, complications may be prevented.

To best take care of yourself, with diabetes, it is essential for early detection.

WHAT IF I HAVE DIABETES?

Diabetes affects  many different organs of the body, causing you to be treated by a team of doctors, nurses, diabetes educators, podiatric physicians and other health care specialists.  This team all work together to monitor your condition and keep your diabetes under control.     

• Someone in your family has diabetes

• Being overweight

• Developing diabetes during pregnancy

• Being over 40 years old

• Belonging to one of the  following ethnic groups:

• African American

• Native American

• Hispanic American

• Asian American

• Pacific Islander

Answering “yes” to one or more of the preceding questions, increases your risk for developing diabetes.  Most of the characteristics for developing diabetes are hereditary, but your weight is something you are able to control. More than 80 % of people with diabetes are overweight, many of which are obese.  Exercising and keeping your weight down are things you can do to prevent the onset of diabetes.

SIGNS OF DIABETES

The following symptoms are indicators of diabetes.   If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you need to see a physician and be tested for diabetes.  The symptoms to look for are:

• Having the frequent need to urinate

• An increase in the number of infections

• Weight loss.

• Blurred vision

• Increased thirst

• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

• Excessive hunger

• Wounds that heal slowly

• Pain or aching in the legs while walking or sitting

• Bleeding within the skin around corns or calluses

• Skin changing color

• Skin is dry and cracking, especially around the heels

• The foot/ankle is swollen

• Toe nail fungus or ingrown nails

• Open sores that heal slowly

• Skin temperature is high

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