SOUTHEASTERN NEWS
Understanding diabetes
11/6/2009
For people living with diabetes—and their loved ones—every day can be a challenge. Health care providers say that education is the key to managing this life-threatening disease and keeping abreast of the latest in diagnosing and treating its complications.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day will be observed to raise awareness of this serious disease and prevention programs.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. The increase in blood glucose levels results from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or sometimes both.
Nationally, diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death and the 7th leading cause of death in North Carolina. It is estimated that 643,000 people in N.C. have diabetes and an estimated 232,000 others are not aware that they have the disease. (North Carolina Diabetes Prevention and Control Fact Sheet, Sept. 2009)
Between 2003 and 2007, the age-adjusted death rate for diabetes in Robeson County was 60.2 per 100,000 as compared to 26.4 per 100,000 for North Carolina. This means that Robeson County’s rate was more than double the state rate. (Robeson County Trend Report, North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics)
With 21 million children and adults in the United States having diabetes, this disease affects people from all walks of life, in every stage of life (www.ncdiabetes.org).
How can I prevent diabetes?
Type 2 and gestational diabetes can usually be prevented by maintaining a healthy body weight. To maintain a weight that is healthy for you, follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. This means eating well-balanced meals and getting daily exercise.
Why is prevention so important?
Diabetes can lead to many other complications. Chronic diabetes can damage your blood vessels, which an lead to damage of your eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes can also speed the hardening of arteries which leads to coronary artery disease. Other complications of Type 2 diabetes are hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol levels.
Are you at risk?
According to the American Diabetes Association, if you can answer “yes” to the following questions, you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes:
• Are you over 45?
• Are you overweight?
• Are you physically inactive?
• Do you have a family history of diabetes?
“Unlike the flu bug, you can’t catch diabetes from someone else just by touching or being close to someone who has it,” said Diabetes Community Center Director Dr. Mary Black. “Diabetes is a hereditary disease that is generally shared between immediate family members—mother, father, sisters or brothers—and often passed on from one generation to the next. Certain families are more prone to having diabetes than others – African Americans and Native Americans are more prone than whites to have diabetes.”
Special event
The Diabetes Community Center, an affiliate of Southeastern Regional Medical Center, is hosting a celebration to commemorate its 10th anniversary and World Diabetes Day on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the center, located at 4300 Fayetteville Rd. in Lumberton.
The public is invited to the open house celebration, which will include refreshments; guided tours of the facility; information on diabetes education, equipment and services; and waivers for individuals with diabetes who are interested in returning to the center for a free eye disease screen.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., a panel of speakers will discuss the center’s history which dates back to January 25, 1999, when the program was initially funded through a grant from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
For more information about the event or the services available at the Diabetes Community Center, call 618-0655.
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