Every minute

at least one person is diagnosed with diabetes, and this treatable disease

kills more than 193,000 Americans each year.

In Georgia,

approximately 325,000 (6 percent of the adult population) adults have

diabetes, but only 217,000 of them know it. Diabetes is the seventh leading

cause of death, resulting in 1,277 deaths in 1997. However, more often,

diabetes is a contributing factor in deaths from other causes, i.e. kidney

disease, increased susceptibility to infection, heart disease, etc.

In 1997, there

were more than 12,000 hospitalizations for diabetes, resulting in more

than 60,000 inpatient days and $99 million in hospital charges. Death

rates for diabetes have been rising an average of 1 percent per year for

nearly two decades. The rates of death from diabetes for black males is

twice as high, and for black females is three times as high as that of

their white counterparts.

Since the mid

1980s, more Georgians are becoming obese and physically inactive two fundamental

risk factors for developing diabetes. We are also seeing a rise in the

rate of diabetes in children, some of which is also attributed to inactivity

and obesity.

In Fayette

County, there were an estimated 1,920 adults (or 3.1 percent of the adult

population) with diabetes in 1997.

Diabetes, also

known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disorder that adversely effects

the ability of the body to use glucose properly. Glucose is unable to

get into cells without the help of insulin, a hormone produced in the

pancreas. Diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or the cells do not

respond to the insulin that is present in their bodies.

There are several

types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

(insulin-dependent mellitus or juvenile diabetes) occurs when the insulin-producing

cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the body's own immune system. In

such cases, the pancreas produces little or no insulin, and the individual

must take daily insulin injections to live. This type accounts for approximately

5 to 10 percent of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S., and occurs most often

(but not exclusively) in children and young adults.

Type 1 symptoms

usually develop over a short period of time, and include increased thirst

and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme

tiredness.

Type 2 diabetes

(non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) accounts for 90 to 95% of diabetes

cases. It most commonly occurs in adults over the age of 55, but can manifest

itself at an earlier age. However, recent years have shown an increase

in the number of children diagnosed with this type, presumably due to

the rising rate of obesity in children under the age of 17.

In type 2 diabetes,

the pancreas does produce insulin, but the body is not able to use it

effectively. The symptoms of this type develop gradually and may include

fatigue, generally not feeling well, frequent urination, weight loss,

blurred vision, slow healing of sores and frequent infections.

Gestational

diabetes usually develops or is discovered during pregnancy, and disappears

once the pregnancy is over. But if undiagnosed, it can have dire consequences

for both mother and baby. This is just one of many reasons why early and

consistent prenatal care is very important. In addition, women who experience

gestational diabetes run a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes

later in life.

What are your

chances of developing diabetes? You are at higher risk if:

You are age

45 and older

You are a

member of a high-risk ethnic group (e.g., African American, Hispanic/Latino,

American Indian, Pacific Islander)

You are over

weight

You have high

blood pressure (at or above 140/90)

You have a

family history of diabetes

You have a

history of diabetes during pregnancy or you are a woman who has had a

baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth.

If you find

that you fit any of the risk categories, and/or have been experiencing

some of the symptoms, call your physician.

If you would

like more information on diabetes, visit your local health department.

The Fayette County Health Dept. is located at 140 Stonewall Ave West in

Fayetteville, in Suite 107 and can provide written information, and simple

blood sugar screening. Fasting labwork and other types of testing are

also available with a prescription from your physician.