November 2022 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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National Diabetes Month

November is considered National Diabetes Month. This month holds a special place in my heart because both of my younger siblings actually have Type 1 Diabetes. According to "The American Diabetes Association" there are three different types of diabetes, those are Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational.
https://diabetes.org/diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes which was once known as juvenile diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas makes little to no insulin. Insulin is the  hormone that the body uses to allow sugar to enter the cells to produce energy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011

Type 2 Diabetes which was also known as the adult-onset diabetes is a long-term condition in which too much sugar is circulating in the bloodstream. This can be managed through diet and exercise but may require medication.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193

Gestational Diabetes is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy which causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby's health. This can be controlled through eating healthy, exercising, and taking medication if necessary.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339

Lake Cumberland District Health Department is offering a Diabetes Self Management education Class via Zoom on November 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 1pm to 3:30pm. If you are interested in attending that online class call 800-928-4416. I have attached a publication that goes a little more in depth about Diabetes in Kentucky. It is recommended that you should get a regular doctor's check up and have them test you for Diabetes if you have any concerns at all. The URL below should directly take you to the registration for these online courses.
https://www.lcdhd.org/services/diabetes/register-now-for-diabetes-education/

 

Diabetes in Kentucky
General Diabetes Information

In 2005, approximately 8.9 percent of Kentucky’s adult population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is the number one cause of disability for Kentuckians and the fifth leading cause of death by disease. Among the 50 states, Kentucky ranks seventh for having the highest number in the adult population diagnosed with diabetes. The cost of diabetes in both life and medical care is alarming. In 2002 approximately 2.9 billion dollars was spent on
treating diabetes in Kentucky. Preventing this catastrophic disease is a priority. An estimated 40.1 percent of Kentuckians (adults aged 40 to 74) have pre-diabetes and may develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years if they do not change lifestyle habits. Identifying those at risk for diabetes is one of the keys to reducing both the disease and cost of this disease in Kentucky.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of chronic, metabolic diseases that result in high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. These high levels of sugar can also spill over into the urine. This is a disease resulting from the body’s inability to use and/or produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose in the blood enter the body’s cells, where it is either used immediately for energy or stored for later use. Without insulin, the blood glucose builds up in the  bloodstream and cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes is a systemic disease, meaning it can affect many body systems. There are three major types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational. These series of fact sheets will address three types
of diabetes, provide signs and symptoms of diabetes, give risk factors for diabetes, and provide tips for prevention of diabetes. Pre-diabetes will also be discussed.

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

• Frequent urination (having to go to the bathroom more often than usual for no apparent reason).
• Excessive thirst (even after drinking an adequate amount).
• Fatigue (feeling tired).
• Extreme hunger (when you normally should not be hungry).
• Unusual weight loss (not explained by dieting or increased physical activity).
• Blurred vision resulting from fluid leaking into the lens of the eye from elevated blood glucose. This condition causes the lens of the eye to swell making it unable to focus properly. This condition may occur at the onset of diabetes or during periods when blood glucose fluctuates. It passes with time or when blood glucose levels decrease.
• Dry, itchy skin.
• Tingling or numbness in feet (may be a sign of damage to the blood vessels or nerves in your feet due to undiagnosed or untreated diabetes).
These signs and symptoms may indicate diabetes (although you may have no signs and symptoms). Your health care provider is the ONLY ONE who can make the diagnosis. DO NOT rely on symptoms only.

Complications of diabetes
The commonly recognized complications include:
Heart and blood vessel disease
• Is the leading cause of death in diabetes.
• May also result in high blood pressure and stroke.
• Can also cause damage to the blood vessels, especially in lower legs and feet.
• Atherosclerosis or thickening of arteries.
Kidney disease (nephropathy)
• Most common cause of end-stage kidney disease.
Nerve disease
• Damage to the nerves, especially in the lower legs and feet. It is the most common cause of non-injury amputation in those areas.
Skin diseases
• Diabetic dermopathy or light brown scaly patches on the skin due to changes in the small blood vessels in the skin. Seen most often on the front of legs (one or both). Do not cause pain, itching, or skin breakdown.
• Stye (infection in the glands of the eyelid).
• Boils.
• Infections of hair follicles.
• Athlete’s foot.
• Ringworm.
• Vaginal infections that cause itching.
• Generalized skin itching.
Gum/oral disease
• Tooth decay.
• Periodontal (gum) disease.
• Taste impairment.
• Poor functioning of salivary glands (glands that secret saliva in the mouth).
 

What are the risk factors for diabetes?
Being:
• Overweight.
• Over 45 years of age.
• Physically inactive.
• A member of high risk ethnic group (African-American, American Indian, Hispanic,
Asian-American, or Pacific Islander).

Having:
• A family history of diabetes (mother, father, brother, sister, or grandparents).
• An HDL (good cholesterol) less than 35.
• Triglycerides greater than 250.
• A history of pre-diabetes.
• Conditions associated with insulin resistance such as polycystic ovary syndrome and
acanthosis nigricans (a skin condition that commonly occurs around the neck or in
skin folds and appears thick and dark).
• Or had a history of vascular disease.

Had:
• Diabetes during pregnancy and/or baby greater than 9 pounds.

How to prevent diabetes?
• Know your risk factors.
• Modest weight loss (5 to 7 percent).
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Change your eating habits by making healthier choices. Eat more fruits and vegetables and eat fewer foods high in fat.
• Increase physical activity. If you are not currently in a physical activity program, begin one. Get up and get moving. Participate in 30 minutes of physical activity every day. It is important to check with your doctor before beginning a physical activity program.
• Have regular doctor checkups.

References
American Dental Association (2007). Diabetes and your oral health. Available online at http://www.ada.org/public/topics/diabetes.faq.asp.

American Diabetes Association (2007) General information. Available online at http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes.jsp.

American Diabetes Association (2007) Skin complications. Available online at http://www.diabetes.org/what-is-diabetes/skin.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005) Preventing chronic diseases: investing wisely in health, preventing diabetes and its complications. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/Prevention/pdf/diabetes.pdf.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006) Prevention research centers: diabetes prevention and control. Available online at  http://www.cdc.gov/prc/pdf/PRCdiabetesfactsheetsummer2006.pdf.

Kentucky Department of Public Health (2007) Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. Available online at http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/ach/diabetes.htm.

Kentucky Department of Public Health (2005) Kentucky Diabetes Fact Sheet. Available online at http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/ach/cd/diabetesfactsheets.htm.

Kentucky Department of Public Health (2005) Impact of diabetes on the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Available online at http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6C9E500DE-C771-4305-BDE1-ACA63E9DA972/0/BurdenDoc05.pdf.

This is a publication in a five-part series on diabetes. Other publications in this series are:
• Pre-diabetes: HSW-PAR.815
• Type 1 diabetes: HSW-PAR.816
• Type 2 diabetes: HSW-PAR.817
• Gestational diabetes: HSW-PAR.818

Peggy Riley, RN, MSN
Extension Health Specialist for Nursing
November 2007

Copyright © 2007 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions
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