Diabetes. Yes, I said it. It sounds like a bad word, and for some, it is. For some, it sounds like a death sentence, like (some forms of) cancer, HIV/AIDS or other deadly diseases. But diabetes is not a death sentence....if it is caught early enough AND if you do your part to prevent it, if you can, or manage it if you cannot, which some of us can't, no matter what we do. This is a basic definition of diabetes, quoted directly from Wikipedia:
Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.[2] This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
There are three main types of diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 1 DM results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes". Type 2 DM results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. This form was previously referred to as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes". The third main form, gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became available in 1921, and type 2 diabetes may be controlled with medications. Both types 1 and 2 are chronic conditions that cannot be cured. Pancreas transplants have been tried with limited success in type 1 DM; gastric bypass surgery has been successful in many with morbid obesity and type 2 DM. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. Diabetes without proper treatments can cause many complications. Acute complications include hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, and diabetic retinopathy (retinal damage). Adequate treatment of diabetes is thus important, as well as blood pressure control and lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation and maintaining a healthy body weight. Globally, as of 2012, an estimated 346 million people have type 2 diabetes.[3]
I caught this early. I am blessed and lucky for that. I have healthy kidneys. I am not seriously out of shape. I do not have cancer (hopefully not ever). My prostrate is great. Everything else on me is (at the proper and/or) a nice size and is working well, even at my allegedly advanced age! (You may laugh, but I am serious about this, even with the chuckling!) Do not wait to be checked out until you start feeling bad. Do your physicals every year, and dental thing every 6 months. It may be too late by then! Some diseases and/or disorders HAVE NO WARNING SIGNS! Even in the most advanced stages! Old or young, petite, full-figured or obese, male or female, straight, gay or bisexual, Black, White, Asian, Latino; beautiful looking or less-so (in the eyes of some or maybe most)...diseases have no caring about ANY of these things!
NOTE to ALL MEN at/over age 35 to 40, especially those who have a family history of cancer: Get your prostrate checked every year, more often if necessary. It doesn't take that long and it does not hurt that much to have THAT exam done, even if your rear is as tight as mine (I am blessed but the obvious is true too, so I won't go there)! Male or female doctor, it doesn't matter (no sexist jokes here please!)....get over the embarrassment of dropping pants and bending over and just do it! NOW! Women deal with worse exams from a early age with much worse instruments than a gloved finger for a whole hell of a lot longer than men do and (mostly) do not complain, so get over it!
Not all of us are that lucky. Regular physicals make a difference. (Breast) self-exams help too (men get breast cancer too, so check yourselves as well!). If you never read or care about another set of words in my blog, take these words to heart and heed them! Please. The life you save may be your own and/or someone you love.
Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.[2] This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
There are three main types of diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 1 DM results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes". Type 2 DM results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. This form was previously referred to as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes". The third main form, gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became available in 1921, and type 2 diabetes may be controlled with medications. Both types 1 and 2 are chronic conditions that cannot be cured. Pancreas transplants have been tried with limited success in type 1 DM; gastric bypass surgery has been successful in many with morbid obesity and type 2 DM. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. Diabetes without proper treatments can cause many complications. Acute complications include hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, and diabetic retinopathy (retinal damage). Adequate treatment of diabetes is thus important, as well as blood pressure control and lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation and maintaining a healthy body weight. Globally, as of 2012, an estimated 346 million people have type 2 diabetes.[3]
I could go on and on, but you get the point.Why am I bringing this up now? Because it needs to be discussed. I know with certainty that (virtually) everyone who is reading these words EITHER already has diabetes (in some form), whether you know it or not, has risk factors (and/or genetics) for it, and/or has family or friends who either has it and/or knows someone who has it or a combination of some or all of the above. How do I know? I have family who has diabetes. I know folk who have family and friends who have it, if not themselves. And, I must now report, I have recently been diagnosed with a early stage of diabetes myself. So that means you ALL fall in the above categories. Sorry.
Don't feel sorry for me. I have family history for this and other things. This is not a total surprise. However, I AM STILL HERE. I am otherwise HEALTHY. I don't have a perfect physique (but few (allegedly) do. I found out from a routine blood test from a physical I recently took. My condition is (and will) being controlled with a combination of exercise, minor adjustments in what I eat and drink (drinking more water, exercising more, eating less high-sugar candy, cookies and/or desserts and drinking less juices and other drinks with high sugar content. I also (must) take a pill once a day for a while to help control my blood-sugar. I may only have to take pills for a few months or maybe a year or two and then things will be controlled. I may have to take pill(s) or more for the rest of my life. But that is a small price to pay compared to the alternatives (shots or worse), including developing other things. Regardless, it is up to me to do the right things, and to my loved ones to make sure I do so CONSISTENTLY. No days off. Never stop. Just like being a alcoholic who is beating that habit. Different deal...same resolve is needed every day to win, even in the face of temptation.I caught this early. I am blessed and lucky for that. I have healthy kidneys. I am not seriously out of shape. I do not have cancer (hopefully not ever). My prostrate is great. Everything else on me is (at the proper and/or) a nice size and is working well, even at my allegedly advanced age! (You may laugh, but I am serious about this, even with the chuckling!) Do not wait to be checked out until you start feeling bad. Do your physicals every year, and dental thing every 6 months. It may be too late by then! Some diseases and/or disorders HAVE NO WARNING SIGNS! Even in the most advanced stages! Old or young, petite, full-figured or obese, male or female, straight, gay or bisexual, Black, White, Asian, Latino; beautiful looking or less-so (in the eyes of some or maybe most)...diseases have no caring about ANY of these things!
NOTE to ALL MEN at/over age 35 to 40, especially those who have a family history of cancer: Get your prostrate checked every year, more often if necessary. It doesn't take that long and it does not hurt that much to have THAT exam done, even if your rear is as tight as mine (I am blessed but the obvious is true too, so I won't go there)! Male or female doctor, it doesn't matter (no sexist jokes here please!)....get over the embarrassment of dropping pants and bending over and just do it! NOW! Women deal with worse exams from a early age with much worse instruments than a gloved finger for a whole hell of a lot longer than men do and (mostly) do not complain, so get over it!
Not all of us are that lucky. Regular physicals make a difference. (Breast) self-exams help too (men get breast cancer too, so check yourselves as well!). If you never read or care about another set of words in my blog, take these words to heart and heed them! Please. The life you save may be your own and/or someone you love.
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