Many Americans are at risk for diabetes. Are you one?

The statistics are staggering. In 50 years, the number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes has risen dramatically. In 1958, approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with diabetes; by 2010, that number had increased to 18.8 million.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 25.8 million Americans have diabetes. Yet, an even more alarming statistic is that 7 million of these individuals don’t even know they have this potentially deadly condition.

Many on the edge

Individuals diagnosed with diabetes have blood glucose levels that are above normal. When we eat, most of the food is turned into glucose for our bodies to use for energy. To help glucose get into the cells of our bodies, the pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. Type 1 diabetics can’t make enough insulin while Type 2 diabetics can't use their own insulin as well as they should. As a result, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics have higher levels of sugar to circulate in the blood.

While most adults with diabetes are defined as having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the number of individuals with these types of diabetes is dwarfed by the estimated 79 million individuals who have “pre-diabetes.”

People with pre-diabetes have blood glucose, or A1C levels, higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Individuals with pre-diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Know your risks, know your role

While the diabetes statistics are daunting, the good news is that pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are reversible.

Age is a main risk factor for diabetes. Individuals over age 45 should consult their doctor about AIC testing for pre-diabetes or diabetes. However, even if you’re under 45, you should ask about testing if you’re overweight and have one or more of the following risk factors

• A family history of diabetes
• An inactive lifestyle (exercise less than three times a week)
• Member of a high-risk ethnic population (e.g., African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian and Alaskan Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander)
• High blood pressure - 140/90 mm/Hg or higher
• HDL cholesterol less than 35 mg/do or a triglyceride level 250 mg/do or higher
• Had diabetes that developed during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• Polycystic ovary syndrome - a metabolic disorder that affects the female reproductive system
• Acanthuses Nigerians (dark, thickened skin around neck, armpits or skinfolds)
• A history of disease of the blood vessels to the heart, brain, or legs
• Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) or Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) on previous testing.

If you are at risk, exercise and diet are key to preventing diabetes. Research shows that people can delay and possibly prevent the disease by combining healthier eating with the loss of a small amount of weight (5 to 7 percent of total body weight) 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. 

Learn more – take control

To help individuals better understand diabetes and learn if they or their loved ones are at risk, Griffin Hospital will host “Diabetes 101” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division Street, Derby. 

Presented by Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, this free presentation will provide an overview of pre-diabetes, and Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as risk factors and prevention. Attendees can also receive an A1C diabetes test at the reduced price of $15 (cash only). The A1C test provides a picture of an individual’s average blood glucose (blood sugar) control for the past 2 to 3 months. Register now or call 203.732.1511 to register or for more information.

About Tuesday Talks

“Diabetes 101” is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U “Tuesday Talks,” a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics. You can find out about upcoming Tuesday Talks and events at Griffin Hospital at griffinhealth.org/ProgramsEvents.