by Benny Arce

Diabetes, diabetes mellitus among medical practitioners, is a metabolic disorder afflicting an estimated 23.6 million Americans. That is close to eight percent of the population. This eight percent include the likes of former governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, actresses Halle Berry and Selma Hayek, and CNN’s Larry King.

What is Diabetes?

When food is eaten, most of it is converted into glucose, which is the main source of energy for the cells. From the digestive system, glucose flows into the bloodstream waiting to be used. The cells, however, require insulin for them to absorb glucose. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or if the cells themselves do not respond to insulin, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream until it passes out of the system through urine.

There are three main types of diabetes –Type 1, Type 2, and gestational.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system attacks the beta-cells of the pancreas that produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is the more common kind, with about 90 to 95 percent of diabetics having it. In this type of diabetes, the body does not respond to insulin, a condition referred to as insulin resistance.

Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and is similar to Type 2.

Causes and Symptoms

Although it is not known precisely what causes Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 is often associated with advanced age, obesity, lack of exercise, ethnicity, family history, and previous gestational diabetes.

Classic symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination and increased thirst, technically, polyuria and polydipsia respectively. Thirst may lead to frequent drinking but the mouth remains feeling dry. These are often accompanied by huge fluctuations in weight, whether upward or downward. In addition to this, the patient often feels fatigued and nauseated. Blurred vision also occurs as well as slow-healing sores and cuts, and itchy skin, particularly in the groin area.

Managing Diabetes

Discovering that you have diabetes is often upsetting as this implies changes in your lifestyle. You may have to give up some things and take up new ones. This is especially difficult when you are elderly. Habits of a lifetime are most difficult to let go, while adopting new ones can be disorienting.

Your diet may have to change. For the elderly, carbs should be limited to 60 percent of the diet with fats no more than 30 percent. You may need to get up and stretch those muscles. You will need to learn how to monitor you blood glucose levels. This means a ready supply of lancets, test strips, glucose meters, syringes, and ketone strips.

Medicare or your insurance will reimburse you for these expenses but you will need to fill out endless forms. Unless you arrange for your supplies to be delivered to your home, you may also have to stand in long lines at the pharmacy.

Diabetes can cause health complications. You will have to take extra care of your feet, eyes, and kidneys. Your blood pressure has to be kept under control.

You can look at these changes as an aggravation or an opportunity. You can focus on learning new things and become a walking encyclopedia on diabetes. You can also meet new friends while waiting in line or taking a walk in the park. Who knows but you might even run into Huckabee, Berry, Hayek, or King.

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