Quick Facts:                                                        

• Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
• Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness.
• In the United States, 3 million adults have diabetes and one in five are unaware they have it.
• Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed diabetes cases.
• In Nevada, about 10.6percent of the adult population has been diagnosed with diabetes.
• The American Diabetes Association estimates direct medical expense for Nevadans living with diabetes is approximately $2.8 billion.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition  that affects how the body turns food into energy. Diabetes happens when the body does not make or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

The cause of diabetes is unknown, although both genetics and environmental factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, appear to play roles. There are three major types of diabetes.

There is no cure for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food and being active can help. Taking medication as needed, keeping health care appointments, and getting diabetes self-management education and support are also important.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10 percent of Americans who have diabetes, have type 1. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

Type 2 Diabetes

When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the body is producing enough insulin, but doesn’t properly use it, a condition called insulin resistance. Most Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes starts when the body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. There are 96 million Americans who have prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, losing weight by eating healthy and being more active can cut your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Irritability
• Blurry vision
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Fatigue
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual

How is diabetes management?

Type 1 management includes:

• Blood sugar monitoring
• Eating a healthy diet
• Insulin injections
• Exercise
• Regular doctor visits
• Annual foot and eye exams

Type 2 management includes:

• Blood sugar monitoring
• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Medications
• Regular doctor visits
• Annual foot and eye exams

How can I reduce my risk of getting diabetes?

• Be physically active at least 150 minutes each week
• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get screened for diabetes at age 35 (or earlier if you are having symptoms and/or have a family history of diabetes).

Where can I find more information on diabetes?

Visit our Diabetes webpages at our Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website www.gethealthyclarkcounty.org.