Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly
21 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Of this number, 90 to 95
percent have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset
diabetes, occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin to maintain
a healthy blood sugar level or when it becomes resistant to the effects
of insulin. Physicians don’t know exactly what causes cells to
become insulin-resistant, but they do know that excess weight and lack
of exercise play a large role in the onset of type 2 diabetes. In fact,
many experts believe type 2 diabetes is on the rise due to the growing
number of people suffering from obesity.
The earliest and most prevalent signs for type 2 diabetes
are increased thirst and frequent urination. This is because high levels
of sugar in the blood draw water out of your tissues, making you feel
dehydrated and thirsty. Because you compensate by drinking more, you
end up having to go to the bathroom a lot. Other symptoms to look out
for include flu-like symptoms such as weakness or fatigue, fluctuations
in weight, blurred vision, frequent infections, sores that won’t
heal or that are slow to heal, tingling in your hands or feet (caused
by nerve damage), and swollen or tender gums. If you have one of these
symptoms and your fasting glucose level is 126 mg/dL or higher, there
is a strong chance you have diabetes.
