November Is Diabetes Awareness Month, Take A Moment To Understand It

Photo: Health Services Los Angeles County

India-West News Desk

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels (blood sugar) that can lead to severe damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves over time. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone critical for regulating blood glucose.

Key Facts and Statistics

• Global Prevalence: In 2022, 14% of adults aged 18+ lived with diabetes, a significant rise from 7% in 1990.
• Untreated Cases: Over 50% of adults aged 30+ with diabetes were not on medication in 2022, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• Mortality: Diabetes caused 1.6 million deaths in 2021, with 47% of deaths occurring before age 70. High blood glucose was responsible for 11% of cardiovascular deaths and 530,000 kidney disease deaths.

Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 Diabetes:
   • Previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes.
   • Caused by deficient insulin production; requires daily insulin administration.
   • Symptoms include frequent urination, thirst, hunger, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision, often appearing suddenly.
   • Currently, no prevention is available.
2. Type 2 Diabetes:
   • The most common form, accounting for 90–95% of cases.
   • Results from the body’s inability to use insulin properly, often linked to obesity, lack of physical activity, and genetics.
   • Symptoms are often mild and may go unnoticed for years, leading to late diagnoses after complications arise.
   • Increasingly diagnosed in children due to rising obesity rates.

Symptoms of Diabetes

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst and hunger
• Unintended weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Over time, untreated diabetes can lead to complications like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and foot ulcers that may require amputation.

Prevention and Management

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes:

• Lifestyle Changes:
  • Maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly.
  • Eat a balanced diet, limiting sugar and saturated fats.
  • Avoid tobacco use.

Living with Diabetes:

• Early Diagnosis: Regular blood glucose testing is essential for timely intervention.
• Treatment Options:
  • Type 1: Requires lifelong insulin injections.
  • Type 2: Managed through lifestyle changes, oral medications (e.g., metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors), and insulin when necessary.
  • Medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol reduce the risk of complications.

Regular Monitoring:

• Screening for complications such as retinopathy (eye damage), nephropathy (kidney disease), and neuropathy (nerve damage).
• Foot care to address ulcers and prevent amputations.

Global Efforts and Challenges

• Treatment Gaps: More than half of people with diabetes worldwide do not receive treatment, with the greatest disparities in low- and middle-income countries.
• Economic Burden: In the U.S., diabetes-related costs, including medical expenses and lost productivity, total $412 billion annually.

Raising Awareness

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, with November 14th designated as World Diabetes Day to highlight the growing prevalence and impact of the disease.

Quick Facts

• 1 in 10 adults globally have diabetes (~830 million people).
• In the U.S., 38 million people (11%) are diabetic, and 1 in 5 are unaware of their condition.
• Diabetes is the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S.

(With inputs from Indian Health Camp of New Jersey)