Healthy Living

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than fifteen million Americans, or 6% of the population, have diabetes.   

Unfortunately, more than five million people are unaware that they have the disease, and most won’t find out until they develop one of its life-threatening complications such as blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke.  Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy needed for daily life.  There is no cure for diabetes, however, awareness and education are keys to continuing the fight. Diabetes and its complications can be successfully managed through medication, exercise and a healthful lifestyle. 

There are two major types of diabetes and each varies in symptoms and treatment.  Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of all cases and is the most severe form of the disease.  People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive because their pancreas is too damaged to produce enough insulin on its own.  Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1, accounting for 90-95% of all cases.  This disorder results from the body’s inability to make enough, or properly use, insulin and almost half of all afflicted are unaware that they even have the disease.  Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled through weight loss, improved diet and exercise.

Risk factors and warning signs also differ between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.  Usually, siblings and children of type 1 diabetes sufferers are at greater risk for developing the same form of the disease.  Some warning signs for type 1 diabetes include:  frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, fatigue and irritability.  Type 2 diabetes most often afflicts people with the following characteristics: 

• People over 45
• People who are overweight
• People who do not exercise regularly
• People with a family history of diabetes
• Women who had gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes occurring in 2-5% of all pregnancies), or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth

Warning signs for type 2 diabetes includes:  any of the type 1 symptoms, frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts/bruises that are slow to heal and tingling/numbness in hands or feet.  Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no physical symptoms. 

The goal of treatment for both types of diabetes is to lower blood sugar levels and improve the body’s use of insulin by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising daily and testing blood sugar levels.

Approximately half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age.  Consequently, people with diabetes represent 18% of all skilled nursing and rehabilitation center patients and that percentage will undoubtedly increase as the “baby boom” generation grows older. For more information about Diabetes, please contact the center nearest you or click here to find a facility near you.