Diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes - Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes - Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Approximately 90-95% (16 million) have type 2 diabetes.

Pre-diabetes - Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that at least 16 million Americans have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 17 million with diabetes.

• Gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

With so many people affected by diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has compiled statistics on the impact of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes among African Americans
Approximately 2.8 million or 13% of all African Americans have diabetes.

Diabetes among Latinos
Two million or 10.2% of all Latino Americans have diabetes.

Diabetes among Native Americans
Almost 105,000 Native Americans and Alaska Natives, or 15.1% of the population, receiving care from Indian Health Services (IHS) have diabetes.

Diabetes among Seniors
Nearly 20.1% of the United States population, or 7.0 million people age 65 and older, have diabetes.

Diabetes among Women
Approximately 9.1 million or 8.9% of all women over the age of 20 in the United States have diabetes.

Facts & Figures specific to complications

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
The most life-threatening consequences of diabetes are heart disease and stroke, which strike people with diabetes more than twice as often as they do others.

Diabetes and Nephropathy (Kidney Disease)
Kidney disease, or nephropathy, is a frequent complication of diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, and often ends in end-stage renal disease (kidney failure).

Diabetes and Retinopathy (Eye Complications)
Vision impairment is a frequent complication of diabetes, for both type 1 and type 2.

Diabetes Complications and Related Concerns
Heart Disease
People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and complications related to poor circulation.

Eye Care And Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness. People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Early detection and treatment of eye problems can save your sight.

Kidney Disease/Kidney Transplantation
Diabetes can damage the kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail, but can also make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.

Neuropathy And Nerve Damage
One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves that run throughout the body, connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.

Skin Care
As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early.

Foot Care
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor. Learn how to protect your feet by following some basic guidelines.

Oral Health
If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk for gum disease and other mouth-related problems. Learn more about maintaining good dental health.

Transplantation
Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant. There are also pancreas transplants, as well as islet cell transplants.

The information provided by MenopauseRx, Inc. is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health-care provider. Please consult your health-care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

For more information:
Contact the American Diabetes Association at: http://www.diabetes.org/