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Diabetes: African Americans Deadly Foe
by: Drahcir Semaj
Diabetes is having a devastating effect on the African American community. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in African Americans and their death rates are twenty seven percent higher than whites.

Over 2.8 million African Americans have diabetes and one third of them don’t know they have the disease. In addition, twenty five percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 – 74 have diabetes and one in four African American women, over the age of 55, have been diagnosed with the disease

The cause of diabetes is a mystery, but researchers believe that both genetics and environmental factors play roles in who will develop the disease.

Heredity

Researchers believe that African Americans and African Immigrants are predisposed to developing diabetes. Research suggests that African Americans and recent African immigrants have inherited a “thrifty gene” from their African ancestors.

This gene may have enabled Africans to use food energy more efficiently during cycles of feast and famine. Now, with fewer cycles of feast and famine, this gene may make weight control more difficult for African Americans and African Immigrants.

This genetic predisposition, coupled with impaired glucose tolerance, is often associated with the genetic tendency toward high blood pressure. People with impaired glucose tolerance have higher than normal blood glucose levels and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, commonly know as “sugar diabetes”, is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly produce or use insulin. Insulin is needed by the body to process sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Diabetes is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure; diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored.

Diabetics often suffer from low glucose levels (sugar) in their blood. Low blood sugar levels can make you disorientated, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have headaches, have sudden mood swings, have difficulty paying attention, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.

Types of Diabetes

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Pre-diabetes can cause damage to the heart and circulatory system, but pre-diabetes can often be controlled by controlling blood glucose levels. By controlling pre-diabetes you can often prevent or delay the onset of Type II diabetes.

Type I or juvenile-onset diabetes usually strikes people under the age of 20, but can strike at any age. Five to ten percent of African Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with this type of the disease. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body produces little or no insulin and this type of diabetes must be treated with daily insulin injections.

Type II or adult onset diabetes is responsible for ninety to ninety-five percent of diagnosed diabetes cases in African Americans. Type II results from a condition where the body fails to properly use insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association, “Type II is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don’t exercise and who have cholesterol problems.” In the early stages it can often be controlled with lifestyle changes, but in the later stages diabetic pills or insulin injections are often needed.

Pregnancy related diabetes or gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is often associated with high glucose blood levels or hyperglycemia. Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of all pregnant women. The disease usually goes away after delivery, but women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for developing diabetes later in life.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The most common symptoms of diabetes include:

excessive urination including frequent trips to the bathroom

increased thirst

increased appetite

blurred vision

unusual weight loss

increased fatigue

irritability

Complications from Diabetes

Diabetes can lead to many disabling and life threatening complications. Strokes, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations are common complications that effect African Americans who have diabetes

Kidney Disease

“Diabetes is the second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans, accounting for about thirty percent of the new cases each year,” says the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Up to twenty-one percent of people who develop diabetes will develop kidney disease.

Amputations

Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States. More than sixty percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in America occur among people with diabetes and African Americans are almost three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated due to diabetes than whites. According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 82,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed among people with diabetes in 2001.

Blindness

African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness. Diabetics can develop a condition called “Diabetic Retinopathy”, a disease affecting the blood vessels of the eye, which can lead to impaired vision and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people from 20 – 74 years of age and up to 24,000 people loose their sight each year because of diabetes.

Heart Disease

People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop heart disease as people who don’t have diabetes. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is more common in diabetics and can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and poor circulation throughout the body.

Diabetes Risk Factors

You have a greater risk for developing diabetes if you have any of the following:

Obesity

Family history of diabetes

Pre-diabetes

Low physical activity

Age greater than 45 years

High blood pressure

High blood levels of triglycerides

HDL cholesterol of less than 35

Previous diabetes during pregnancy or baby weighing more than 9 pounds

Diabetes has had a devastating effect on the African American community; it is the fifth leading cause of death and second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans.

African Americans suffer from complications from diabetes at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. African Americans are three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated because of diabetes and twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness.

If you have any of the diabetes risk factors you should contact your physician and have a blood glucose test. Also discuss with your physician lifestyle changes you can take to lower your chances of developing diabetes.

About The Author

Drahcir Semaj is a freelance writer who writes about issues affecting African Americans. He can be contacted at drachir@drachirsemaj.com

Diabetes Can Be Deadly - Know What To Do
by: News Canada
(NC)-Food is your body’s fuel to provide energy to enjoy an active lifestyle. Healthy bodies produce insulin to convert sugar in the blood into energy. For people with diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient insulin and sugar builds up instead of becoming energy. Diabetics have to be careful with diet and exercise and may take insulin regularly to control their condition.

Sometimes a person with diabetes can have a medical emergency from an insulin imbalance. Insulin shock happens when a diabetic needs sugar. This condition escalates rapidly and can be caused by taking too much insulin, a lack of food or too much exercise.

Symptoms of insulin shock

Pulse and breathing are rapid and shallow.
Skin is sweaty, pale and cold.
The casualty is disoriented, irritable or aggressive.
The person may stagger, tremble or have difficulty speaking.
First aid for diabetic emergencies

Knowing what to do in a diabetic crisis can save a life.

Assess the individual and send for medical help.
Place an unconscious casualty in the recovery position and monitor pulse and breathing.
If a conscious casualty can tell you what they need, assist them to find and take their medication.
If the person is too confused to understand what is needed, give them something sweet to eat or drink - sugar may help.
St. John Ambulance has training courses to help you to learn to save a life. For more information, see the office in your area or check us out online at www.sja.ca.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Diabetes Awareness: I’ll Wait ’til it Hurts
by: David Anderson
I’ll Wait ’til it Hurts
“If it ain’t broke, most people don’t fix it.”

Do you know if you have diabetes?

Did you know type 2 diabetes symptoms only become “obvious” once the disease has substantially progressed?

By the time many type 2 diabetics (and often their doctors) realize action is necessary, the disease, with its destructive high blood sugars, has been silently damaging their body for years.

Complications to the blood vessels and tissues of your eyes, feet, heart, kidneys, and other organs, are likely well underway.

You visit the doctor because you feel bad, and you wish to feel better. You react to the symptoms of perceived illness. This is understandable, but does not allow much room for prevention or early detection of diabetes.

Of course this idea, “Don’t see the doctor ’til it hurts,” comes from our “busier-then-ever” lifestyles. But to blame, to point fingers after the damage has started is as pointless as is the leaping bungee-jumper’s complaint that his equipment has just failed. It’s a little late to talk about why. Some problems are better prevented.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you know most of the time you don’t feel very bad. You might think that because you don’t feel very bad, it isn’t very serious, and you don’t have to do anything about it just now. “I’ll wait ’til it hurts” …You couldn’t be more wrong.

Diabetes damages your body with high blood sugars. It doesn’t care whether your sugars are high from type 2, type 1, or some other cause — if they’re up, they’re doing damage. Type 2 diabetics who let their sugars run “because they don’t feel bad” are doing serious damage to their eyes, kidneys, hearts, and nervous systems.

Suppose you have diabetes, and don’t want the complications. Suppose you don’t know you have diabetes, but you’re from a high-risk group (maybe someone in your family has or had diabetes), and you want to cut the risks. Or, suppose you just want to feel better.

It’s all the same — Your early detection, education, and prevention work best.

Don’t wait ’til it hurts. Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.

For more information about diabetes, including a Diabetes Quiz and a Free booklet, visit our website at:

http://hope4diabetes.com/info

This 20 page FREE booklet will provide you with in-depth information on comprehensive diabetes care. The 7 principles, or steps, will help you to understand, manage and diagnose your potential diabetes risk.

It could help you live a longer and more active life. The booklet is Yours absolutely FREE - No Risk! Share it NOW with the people you love and want to Keep alive!.

About The Author

David Anderson is a freelance health writer for Hope4Diabetes.com. Email contact information is available on the website. For telephone contact, call me at: (316) 541-2208

Diabetes & The Foot
by: Nicola Cupples

People with Diabetes are at high risk from various health problems such as:

Heart Disease
Strokes
Eye Disease - Possible Blindness
Nerve Damage - Neuropathy
Amputation of foot or leg
Kidney Problems
Gum Disease
Loss of teeth
Another health problem associated with diabetes involves the feet, as Diabetes is one of the major causes for lower limb amputation in the year 2004.

Amputation is obviously the last resort concerning problems of the feet, but it is surprising how a small cut or abrasion can lead to such dramatic results in diabetic patients.

Why is the Foot at Risk?

Persistent high blood glucose levels can eventually damage the body’s nerves, causing a loss of sensation (neuropathy). Nerve damage can also cause pain in the legs, arms and hands creating problems in people’s everyday lives. Your GP or Podiatrist should check your feet on a yearly basis, which should include a sensory exam to check for loss of feeling.

Small cuts or abrasions on the neuropathic foot can go unnoticed if daily foot checks are not performed. The cut can easily become infected, which in turn leads to an infected ulceration and could eventually result in the loss of the lower limb. Therefore the importance of daily foot checks, foot care & Diabetes in general cannot be underestimated.

High Risk Factors Leading to Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A small percentage of diabetic patients develop foot ulcerations, some of which may lead on to amputation. The foot is at a higher risk of ulceration if the individual suffers from conditions such as vascular disease or neuropathy. However there are many other factors that can increase risk of ulcers such as: -

Cold feet or absent foot pulses
History of Foot Problems
Foot Deformities
Limited mobility
Poor circulation
Inappropriate shoes
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels
A painless abrasion or corn can steadily progress to a distressing foot ulcer, and if left untreated skin deterioration may occur.

About The Author

Written by Nicola Cupples. Find more articles like this one at www.foothealthcare.com. Your online guide to foot health and well being.

info@foothealthcare.com

Cats With Feline Diabetes Can Still Lead A Happy Life
by: Marc de Jong

“Your cat has feline diabetes.” If this is your vet’s message after examining your beloved friend, it will come as a shock. Yes, your cat has a serious disease. But you can treat it!

I got the message myself early 2003. My (then) 10-year-old neutered cat Duvelke had been urinating and drinking more than usual for a few weeks. First it was thought to be connected with a previous medication. But after urine and blood tests the veterinarian was certain. “Your cat has feline diabetes.”

Now what is diabetes?

Blood contains sugar (glucose). The blood sugar level is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. If this organ produces not enough insulin, we speak of diabetes.

Symptoms of feline diabetes differ. Duvelke started to pass more urine than usual, and had an increased thirst as a result of this. Other possible symptoms are weight loss, decreased appetite, lethargy and a poor coat condition.

Cats with untreated diabetes will become inactive, vomit regularly, stop urinating and fall into a coma. But if you treat feline diabetes correctly, your cat might still be able to lead a long and happy life. It does take effort and dedication, though.

Your cat will need to get food at set times, and preferably should stay indoors.

And – this is essential - you will have to give your cat insulin shots. Once a day, often two times daily. Your vet will determine the quantity and tell you how to do it. It is not scary!

But keep an eye on your friend. Your cat should have had food before getting the insulin shot! If not, a hypoglycemic shock (a ‘hypo’) may occur. This is also possible if your cat gets too much insulin. And this is really dangerous. If you are not there to help, your cat might die from a hypo.

Duvelke has had a few hypos since 2003. He survived. How? By putting glucose in his mouth, on the inside of his cheeks. Honey on his tongue also worked well.

Duvelke’s quantity of insulin has been reduced considerably the past year. And he’s doing really fine. If you didn’t know about his disease, you would assume he is a perfectly healthy cat.

About The Author

© 2004, Marc de Jong. Journalist, web site builder and cat lover Marc de Jong lives in Belgium. He is the owner and editor of http://www.cat-pregnancy-report.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

The Truth About Diabetes
Did you know that approximately 17,000,000 Americans have diabetes? This equates to 6.2% of the population. And, at the current rate of increase, there are about one million new cases per year.

The really frightening part of this is that this is probably an “under estimation” because it is not uncommon for diabetes to go undetected for as long as 12 years before being properly diagnosed.