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Diabetes is actually a group of diseases that affects how our body controls sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. Glucose is needed for our body to function. Many different types of foods get broken down into sugar so our body can use it as fuel.

 

The two problems that cause diabetes are when:

• Our body doesn't make enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
• Our body does not respond to insulin.

Over time, high levels of sugar in the blood put stress on our body and can lead to many different problems.

Yes. There are 3 main types of diabetes.

• Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not make insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels). It generally affects children and adolescents and is a lifelong disease. It is a genetic disease that cannot be prevented. People need to take insulin to control the level of sugar in their blood.
• Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not respond to insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels). It generally affects people who are overweight or obese but genetics are also part of the cause. Having a family member with type 2 diabetes increases a person's chance of developing the disease.
  
  In the past, type 2 diabetes affected only adults but is now becoming more common in children because of obesity. Most people need pills (oral medications) to control their diabetes. Some people can control their diabetes by eating more healthfully, exercising, and losing weight.
• Gestational (pregnancy) diabetes occurs in pregnant women. It may be caused by pregnancy hormones that affect how the body responds to insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels). It can cause complications for both the mother and the fetus. Women with gestational diabetes have high risk pregnancies, so special medical care is required.

Find out more from the American Diabetes Association.

Yes. In the past, type 2 diabetes used to only affect adults. But now, as more children are becoming overweight, type 2 diabetes is affecting children, too.

More than one-third of new cases of diabetes in children may be type 2 diabetes. African American and Hispanic children seem to have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

• Thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Frequent or slow-healing infections

However, many people with type 2 diabetes may not have any symptoms. This is especially true for people who have just developed the disease.

Complications of type 2 diabetes include:

 

Death
Diabetes causes over 70,000 deaths per year in the U.S. and nearly 400 deaths per year in Philadelphia.

Heart attacks
Strokes
People with diabetes are 2-4 times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people without diabetes.

Kidney failure and need for dialysis
Nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. are on dialysis or have had a kidney transplant because of diabetes.

Vision loss and blindness
Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness in the US

Nerve damage (neuropathy) and loss of feeling
Poor blood flow to the feet
Wounds that don't heal, which can lead to bad infections and amputation
Six out of every 10 amputations in the U.S. are due to complications for diabetes.

Erectile dysfunction
Men with diabetes are 2-3 times as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as men without diabetes.

As of 2008, 1 in 8 adult Philadelphians (13%) had type 2 diabetes. This is higher than the national rate of 11% among adults. Upper North Philadelphia and Bridesburg/Kensington/Richmond have the highest rates.

 

Nearly 400 Philadelphians per year die of diabetes. It is the 8th leading cause of death in Philadelphia.

Based on national data, diabetes in Philadelphia costs $850 million per year. This is based on the costs of caring for people with diabetes and due to disability, productivity losses, and early death.

Yes. In 2008, 12% of White adults in Philadelphia had diabetes compared to 13% of Latinos and nearly 15% of African Americans.

Compared to Whites, African Americans in Philadelphia were twice as likely to die from diabetes in 2007.

One recent study showed that people who drink 1-2 servings per day were 26% more likely to develop diabetes than those who never have sugary drinks.

 

People who are overweight or obese are much more likely to develop diabetes than people at a healthy weight. Sugary drinks are full of empty calories. One 20-ounce soda (the plastic bottles sold in vending machines) has 240 calories. Over time, all these empty calories lead to weight gain. If we drink just one soda per day and keep eating as we normally would, we would drink nearly 90,000 calories in a year and gain 25 pounds!

Americans drink more than double the amount of sugary drinks than they did 25 years ago. Part of the problem is that sugary drinks don't make us feel full even though they are packed with calories. We can drink a large sugary drink and then still feel hungry.

Plus, sugary drinks have so much sugar (glycemic load) that they put a lot of stress on the body to process the sugar. This can lead the body to not respond to insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels). Over time, this can lead to diabetes.

Find out more about sugary drinks and diabetes.

The following people should be tested for diabetes:

 

• Adults over 45
• Overweight adults and children
• Adults with a family history of diabetes
• Anyone with symptoms
• Women who have had gestational diabetes.
• Anyone who has ever had a high blood sugar level

Find out your risk for diabetes with the Diabetes Risk Calculator .

Find your nearest health care center.

The best thing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes is maintain a healthy weight.

If you are overweight, even lowering your weight by 5-10% (10- 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds) can significantly lower your risk for diabetes! Try to do the following things:

 

• Exercise regularly. Even brief walking throughout the day can be helpful.
• Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meat. Try not to overeat!
  • Tips to reduce sugary drinks
  • My Food Advisor
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Know your risk for diabetes
• Get tested for diabetes

Find out more about how to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Treating type 2 diabetes takes time, dedication, effort, and some help.

 

First, make sure you have a good primary care doctor or nurse that can work with you. If you don't have a primary care provider or don't have health insurance, free or low cost medical care is available throughout Philadelphia.

Eat healthy, exercise, and get to a healthy weight. Even lowering your weight by 5-10% (10- 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds) may allow you to control your diabetes without medications.

Involve your family, loved ones, and friends. It's easier to make changes in our life when we have support and motivation from the people around us. Plus, these people may be at risk for diabetes, too.

Most people with diabetes need to be on medications. Your primary care doctor or nurse can help you figure out the right medications for you. There are pills that help lower your blood sugar and other pills that control how your body responds to sugar. Some people with severe diabetes may need to take injections of insulin.

Find out more about how you can treat diabetes.

If you think you may have diabetes or may be at risk, make an appointment with your primary care doctor or nurse, tell them your concerns, and get tested for diabetes. If you do not have a primary care provider or do not have health insurance, free or low cost medical care is available throughout Philadelphia.

• Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard School of Public Health discussing healthy drinks
• Know your risk for diabetes
• Free or low cost medical care in Philadelphia
• Diabetes Prevention Toolkit
• Liquid Candy: How soft drinks are harming America’s health