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Diabetes is a growing problem With the
population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in
health care, the problem is only growing.
Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism. Our metabolism is
what the way our bodies use digested food for energy and
growth.
Most food that is processed through our bodies is broken
down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose.
Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on.
When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is
supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our
blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin
into our blood.
In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced
or the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to the insulin
that is produced. Therefore the glucose builds up and
overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.
This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even
though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the natural
glucose.
There are three types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and
gestational diabetes. People who have type 1 are known as
insulin-dependent.
This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s natural
system is fighting against another part of the body. In the
case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks the insulin
producing cells and destroys them.
Therefore the pancreas can produce little to no insulin.
These people are in need of daily injections of insulin to
live. Five to ten percent of diabetes cases are type 1 in
the US.
Between 2001 and 2002, the diagnosis of diabetes went from
5.5 percent of Americans to an alarming 6.5 percent. In
just one year!
Overall, twelve million Americans have been diagnosed and
another 5 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know
it. And yet another 12 millions are on their way to type 2
diabetes because of impaired glucose levels.
Not knowing is the worst because risks of untreated
diabetes puts us at a terrible risk of complications
including but not limited to blindness, amputations and
ultimately death.
The stickler is, that type 2 diabetes is almost completely
preventable. Doctor’s say eat less, eat better and
exercise. The numbers show just how many Americans are
currently overweight.
Statistically, people are now living longer, and it has
been on the rise for years. But this will not continue if
type 2 diabetes is not put under control.
We are a gluttonous society and ultimately it is affecting
how we live and how long we live.
And unfortunately, the diabetes epidemic is not just a US
problem. It is spreading worldwide with epidemic reports in
Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
It is estimated that by 2025, the number of diabetics
worldwide will rise to 380 million. And diabetes is now
affecting more of the young and middle-aged population in
developing countries between the ages of 40 and 59.
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