Risk Factors and Warning Signs of Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which there is too much sugar in the blood. When you digest food, your body breaks down much of the food into sugar (glucose). Your blood carries the sugar to the cells of your body for energy. The pancreas gland makes insulin, which helps move the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. When your body does not have enough insulin, sugar cannot get into your cells. Sugar builds up in your blood. Too much sugar in your blood can cause many problems.

There are 2 types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

• Type 1 diabetes (also called juvenile onset diabetes) usually starts before the age of 35. Cells in the pancreas produce little or no insulin and the person needs insulin injections to survive.
• Type 2 diabetes, which used to also be called adult-onset diabetes and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, usually begins after age 40, although even children may develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not make enough insulin, or cannot use the insulin it makes.

Type 2 is much more common than type 1 and accounts for more than 85% of all diabetes. It affects about one of every 50 people in the US.

What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?

Risk factors include:

• a family history of diabetes
• being 40 years of age or more
• being overweight
• a family background of Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
• having had gestational diabetes, or giving birth to at least 1 baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• high blood pressure
• abnormal cholesterol levels: HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) below 35 mg/dL, or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL
• inactive lifestyle with little or no exercise
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• a fasting blood sugar (FBS) in the prediabetes range (a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125 mg/dL)
• acanthosis nigricans (a velvety darkening of the skin of the back of the neck and under the arms).

Can I prevent diabetes?

While you can't change your family history or your age, you can control your lifestyle. Things like diet and exercise help determine whether you develop diabetes and how well you respond to treatment. Controlling your weight with diet and exercise is very important.

Why is it important to prevent or control diabetes?

Untreated or poorly controlled diabetes can have serious consequences. If the blood glucose level gets too high or too low, you may faint, go into a coma, or die. Diabetes also takes its toll on small blood vessels and nerves, causing problems in the eyes, skin, feet, heart, brain, and kidneys. Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet are common problems due to nerve damage. Stomach and intestinal problems can also occur if control of diabetes is poor. Men with diabetes may develop problems with erectile dysfunction (impotence). People with diabetes are at increased risk for cataracts and blindness. They are also much more likely to have high blood pressure, a stroke, and problems with the heart and blood vessels.

What are the warning signs of diabetes?

Warning signs may include:

• increased thirst
• increased urination
• increased appetite
• unexpected weight gain or weight loss
• tiredness
• skin infections
• slow healing of sores
• blurred vision
• prickling, burning, or itching feeling in hands or feet.

How can I help myself?

• Have regular medical checkups according to the recommended schedule for your age and medical condition. Don't wait for serious problems before making an appointment.
• If you have diabetes, follow the treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider and keep your follow-up appointments.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat a low-fat, diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. You may want to work with a nurse or registered dietitian to set up a diet program that meets your needs.
• Exercise regularly, according to your healthcare provider's recommendations.
• Stop smoking. Smoking makes the effects of diabetes much worse and causes complications to happen earlier.
• Keep your weight under control, particularly if you have a family history of diabetes.
• Be alert for warning signs of diabetes.