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Managing diabetes
for yourself or a loved one is important but it doesn’t have to
be difficult and you certainly don’t have to do it alone.
Our staff at Direct Diabetic Supplies is trained in patient care and
diabetes supplies.
We can help you manage your diabetes in the simplest and easiest way. In
an effort to help support our patients we are pleased to provide the
following links:
Did you know?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use
insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches
and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes
continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental
factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the
population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been
diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly
one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or
diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG)
or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to
diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association
recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to
perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125
mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level
of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a
fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the
two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person
tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200
mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that
"unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel
them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with
diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to
properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency.
Approximately 90-95% (17 million) of Americans who are diagnosed with
diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about
135,000 cases in the United States each year.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose
levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of
type 2 diabetes. There are 41 million Americans who have pre-diabetes,
in addition to the 18.2 million with diabetes.
Additional Information
Diabetes Symptoms
Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so
harmless. Learn what they are in this section.
Diabetes Risk Test
More than 18 million Americans have diabetes - one in three does not
know it! Take our diabetes risk test to see if you are at risk for
having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos,
Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Diabetes Statistics
With so many people affected by diabetes, the American Diabetes
Association has compiled statistics on the impact of diabetes and its
complications. We have statistics listed by population, complication,
and economic impact.
The Genetics of Diabetes
You've probably wondered how you got diabetes. You may worry that your
children will get it too. Unlike some traits, diabetes does not seem to
be inherited in a simple pattern. Yet clearly, some people are born more
likely to get diabetes than others.
Who's on your health care team?
No matter what kind of diabetes you have, it affects many parts of your
life. You can get help from health professionals trained to focus on
different areas, from head to toe. A health care team helps you use the
health care system to its fullest. So whom do you need on your team?
Find out here.
Multimedia Education
This section contains Webcasts of several different diabetes-related
topics.
eNews Original Content Archive
Find original content articles from past issues of Diabetes E-News Now!
Books & Magazines
Visit American Diabetes Association (ADA) bookstore for a variety of
cookbooks, meal planners, self-care guides and other educational
materials to assist you in managing
diabetes.
Diabetes Resources*
American Diabetes Association: The nation's largest nonprofit
health organization providing diabetes research, information and
advocacy.
1-800-342-2383.
www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International: The world's
leading nonprofit, nongovernmental funder of diabetes research, with a
focus on type 1 diabetes.
1-800-533-2873.
www.jdrf.org
Children with Diabetes: Online community for kids, families and
adults
www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/index_cwd.htm
Diabetes 123:
Help for everyone living with diabetes
www.diabetes123.com/index_d123.htm
Kids Learn
About Diabetes: Describes aspects of diabetes in a 'kid-friendly'
manner, authored by a Boy Scout as part of his work toward the rank of
Eagle Scout.
diabetes.dyndns.info/diabetes
NDDK:
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases fact sheets
on diabetes
www.niddk.nih.gov
Joslin
Diabetes Center: Leading diabetes treatment, research and education
institution. Affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
www.joslin.org
Healthfinder: Government-sponsored guide to reliable health
information
www.healthfinder.gov
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention: Health topic, diabetes
www.cdc.gov/health/diabetes.htm
USDA Food and
Nutrition Information: Healthy diets, consumer nutrition
headquarters, food pyramid
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
Consumer
Information Center, Food Guide Pyramid: A Guide to Daily Food
Choices
www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Fitness
Online: Guides to strength training and other physical activities
www.fitnessonline.com
The Yoga Site:
Resources for gaining a more flexible body
www.yogasite.com
Diabetes Monitor:
http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/friends.htm
*Information source: American Diabetes Association
www.diabetes.org
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