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Health > Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a common disease where the body doesn’t
produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches
and other food into energy that is required for
daily life and daily activities. Unfortunately, the
direct cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery,
although both genetics and environmental factors
such as obesity and lack of exercise play serious
roles.
Currently, there are an estimated 20.8 million
children and adults in the United States, or 7% of
the population who have diabetes. An estimated 14.6
million have been diagnosed with diabetes;
unfortunately, 6.2 million people (nearly one third)
are unaware that they have the disease.
To properly determine whether or not a person has
diabetes or pre-diabetes, physicians and specialists
will conduct a FPG (fasting plasma glucose test) or
an OGT (oral glucose tolerance test). Either of
these tests can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or
diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
recommend the FPG diagnosis because its faster,
easier and less expensive to perform.
If and when you are diagnosed with Diabetes, you
will be diagnosed with either Type 1 Diabetes or
Type 2 Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in young adults
and children, and was previously known as ‘juvenile
diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t
produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body
to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for
the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar
from the blood into the cells.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough
insulin or the cells ignore the insulin altogether.
Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use
sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the
body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood
into the cells.
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