How deadly is diabetes? Diabetes is fast becoming the number one killer in Western society. In today's society with fast food and high carbohydrate laden meals, diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. Type II diabetes, which is insulin resistant, is quickly becoming the number one killer. Type II diabetes is usually diagnosed in the late 40s or early 50s of one's life. Families with a history of diabetes should be more alert to its signs. Type II diabetes usually occurs with a diabetic lifestyle which is excessive calorie intake, inadequate calorie expenditure, and obesity is added to people that are susceptible to diabetes through family history.
The disease is deadly. When initially diagnosed there are very few symptoms. It is usually discovered through a blood test. The body mass index at which excessive weight increases risk for diabetes varies with different racial groups. For example, compared with persons of European ancestry, persons of Asian ancestry are at increased risk for diabetes at lower levels or were being overweight.
In 2007, the estimated prevalence of diabetes in the United States with 7.8% or 23.6 million people; almost 1/3 of the cases were undiagnosed. More than 90% of the cases of diabetes are type II diabetes mellitus. With increasing obesity in the population, an older population, and an increase in the population of high-risk minority groups, prevalence is increasing. Type II diabetes is less common in non-Western countries where the diet contains fewer calories or carbohydrates and a calorie expenditure is much higher than in the West. However, his peoples of these countries adopt Western lifestyles, weight gain and type II diabetes are becoming virtually epidemic.
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults in the United States. Diabetic retinopathy accounts for 12 to 24,000 newly blinded people every year. Diabetes is the leading cause of renal disease accounted for 44% of the new cases according to the Center of disease control. In 2005, 46,000 hundred 39 people in the United States and Puerto Rico began renal replacement therapy and 180,000 people with diabetes were on dialysis or have received kidney transplants due to diabetes. Diabetes is also the leading cause of lower limb amputations. With a 15 to 40 fold increase in risk over the nine that non-diabetic population this is getting to epidemic proportions. In 2004,71,000 lower limb amputations were performed with the cause related to neuropathy and vasculopathy that were linked to diabetes.
The statistics are mind-boggling and the disease of diabetes kills. Today the disease is treated by both drugs and diet. The people that are most affected by diabetes are usually people in their mid to later 40s or early 50s, and are usually overweight or obese. The simplest and most effective way to control diabetes, as there is no cure yet, is through a well-balanced and low carbohydrate diet. Your normal diet that you buy at the book stand may not be effective for controlling diabetes. If you choose not to go on a low carbohydrate diet the best diet available is a Mediterranean style diet. The diet is low in carbohydrates, and has a balance of proteins and fats.
One of the problems of this disease is it attacks the body in many ways and works very slowly and methodically. Another problem is that it does not become evident till later in life, and usually when it shows itself it is too late. If you allow this disease to go unchecked it will kill you slowly and efficiently. You may lose your sight, you could lose a limb or more as the disease attacks the nerves, veins and arteries. The high blood sugar will also attack your organs, especially the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. You need to fight this disease as soon as it is discovered. If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes but are overweight start losing weight before the disease attacks.
The drugs that are available are very strong and harsh and offer a variety of side effects from heart disease to kidney failure. Do not let the disease get to this stage where these drugs are necessary. A low carbohydrate diet with moderate exercise will control this disease and allow your body to heal from the damage that high blood sugar brings.
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