February 4, 2012

Diabetes Rates

The numbers of individuals diagnosed with diabetes continue to climb, with nationwide levels reaching record high levels.  

Diabetic Incidence Rates in the United States

25.8 million people are affected by diabetes nationwide
8.3% of the population of the United States

26.9% of Seniors (aged 65 years and up) have diabetes

35% of Adults (aged 20 years and up) have pre-diabetes.
50% of Adults (aged 65+) are pre-diabetic.

2 million new cases of diabetes we're diagnoses last year in the U.S. (among people aged 20+)

Diabetes Rates Among U.S. States

Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia have the highest levels of diabetes in the country, with the Southern states also having the highest levels of obesity.  Alabama led the nation with a high 13.2% rate of the population having been diagnosed with diabetes (does not include pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes diagnosis, see blood sugar chart). 

Nationwide average of 8.7% also reflected the leaders, as Alaska and Colorado had the lowest levels of diabetes at 6.0% and 5.3% respectively.  Colorado also led the nation with the lowest levels of obesity, a strong correlation along with lifestyle and dietary choices (see glycemic index food lists).

diabetes rates and statistics USA

Glycemic Edge Diabetes Levels States Ranking List

State:
YesYes, pregnancy-relatedNoNo, pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes
Nationwide (States and DC)
8.70.889.01.2
Alabama
13.20.584.81.6
Alaska
5.31.292.51.0
Arizona
11.40.686.71.3
Arkansas
9.60.688.81.0
California
8.61.488.51.5
Colorado
6.00.792.21.1
Connecticut
7.30.891.00.8
Delaware
8.71.089.21.2
District of Columbia
10.90.487.41.3
Florida
10.40.887.61.2
Georgia
9.71.088.21.1
Hawaii
8.30.988.52.3
Idaho
7.91.189.71.3
Illinois
8.70.889.41.0
Indiana
9.80.888.11.3
Iowa
7.50.590.91.1
Kansas
8.40.989.41.3
Kentucky
10.01.287.41.4
Louisiana
10.30.687.91.2
Maine
8.70.989.21.2
Maryland
9.31.088.71.1
Massachusetts
7.40.890.41.3
Michigan
10.10.687.91.4
Minnesota
6.70.890.91.6
Mississippi
12.41.085.61.1
Missouri
9.41.388.11.2
Montana
7.00.891.01.1
Nebraska
7.70.691.00.8
Nevada
8.50.689.71.1
New Hampshire
7.91.089.02.2
New Jersey
9.20.788.81.3
New Mexico
8.50.790.10.8
New York
8.90.889.01.3
North Carolina
9.80.988.11.2
North Dakota
7.40.591.11.0
Ohio
10.10.887.31.8
Oklahoma
10.40.987.31.4
Oregon
7.20.990.71.2
Pennsylvania
10.30.887.81.1
Puerto Rico
12.80.186.20.9
Rhode Island
7.81.388.62.3
South Carolina
10.71.286.81.3
South Dakota
6.91.390.90.9
Tennessee
11.30.483.15.2
Texas
9.71.188.21.0
Utah
6.50.891.71.1
Vermont
6.80.591.71.0
Virginia
8.70.989.21.3
Washington
7.60.890.41.1
West Virginia
11.70.486.91.0
Wisconsin
7.10.591.50.8
Wyoming
7.20.791.20.9

source: cdc.gov 2010 Prevalence and Trends Data; National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2011 cdc.gov/pubs

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New Blood Sugar Chart Information

One of the most popular requests we get is information on diabetes, high blood sugar, and how a low glycemic nutrition plan can be used for those who are diabetic or pre-diabetic.

blood sugar chartNow you can review blood sugar chart information to see how blood glucose levels in normal, pre-diabetic, and diabetics interact.

What's most useful is for the large number of readers who are pre-diabetic.  Many don't realize how fine a line there is between the onset of diabetes and "normal" blood glucose levels.  This is because the fasting glucose levels for pre-diabetics and non-diabetics is almost the same.  This means that for many of us who get regular blood work, the glucose levels can appear 'normal', but you may actually be pre-diabetic or at risk.

The best way to check this is to have your blood monitored after a meal, then repeat the test if the results indicate pre-diabetic levels.  It's actually not difficult to do and can be a life changing discovery.

In the meantime, a low glycemic meal plan offers a lot of benefits well beyond weight management – specifically, a more relaxed and less pronounced spike in blood glucose and the resulting release of insulin.  This means a low GI meal plan helps you manage your nutrition and keep your system in natural balance, and can compliment your treatment plan.

We'll be adding to our hyerglycemic and hypoglycemic condition and diabetes awareness research shortly.  In the meantime, stay healthy and informed!

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Dealing With Type 2 Diabetes

Dealing With Type 2 Diabetes

Some people think that just because they have no particular type 2 diabetes symptom that they are protected from diabetes. This May not always be the case if the understanding and the true nature of type 2 diabetes symptom May help save your life.

The figures

If you have the condition, however, it means that the cells of your body does not react properly to the action of insulin which is supposed to open the cells to glucose. Without glucose into the cells you will have no obvious source of energy.

Type 2 diabetes is actually the most common type of diabetes. It is estimated that at least 90% of diabetics belong to the category of type 2. The sad truth is that more than 6% of diabetics are not aware that they have the condition. The lack of awareness May be due to a seemingly harmless dismissal of type 2 diabetes symptoms or a total lack of warning signs.

Different symptoms

Type 1 diabetes is less common than Type 2 May, but it is more difficult to manage because it is the inability of the pancreas to fulfil its task of producing insulin. Despite the difference case, however, both types of diabetes share the same symptoms. A diabetic may begin to feel tired often, thirst and May have sometimes blurred vision and sores that do not heal quickly.

The difference in all the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 is the onset of symptoms. A type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop quickly and worsen within a few weeks. Even with the rapid development of symptoms, however, damages the cells May have already taken place for some time before type 1 diabetes is finally discovered. A type 2 diabetes symptom on the other hand is not as obvious and as bad as a symptom of type 1.

Effects of no symptoms

The type 2 diabetes symptoms must be detected and taken into account immediately. The key to effective management of this chronic disease is early detection. Once you fail to detect type 2 diabetes symptom, however, you can suffer complications that are even more difficult to reverse. Some diabetics do realize that they have type 2 diabetes because of complications such as retinopathy, heart disease, kidney problems and nerve death. One complication is therefore the only type 2 diabetes symptom.

Uncommon risk factors

Even those who are not a unique type 2 diabetes symptom should be particularly cautious if you are overweight and have a family history of type 2 diabetes. However, you should also consider yourself at high risk of developing diabetes if you are over 45 years, had a baby over 9 pounds and has a history of gestational diabetes or pre-diabetes. For undetermined reasons, individuals who are Asian, African Americans and Hispanics are at greater risk of developing diabetes.

What must be done

Seek professional counselor your doctor immediately. There are, however much you have to remind yourself. You should monitor your blood sugar, take your medication as prescribed, follow your diet and exercise plans and view and manage your weight.

Find More Type 2 Diabetes Articles

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Type 2 Diabetes Information

Type 2 Diabetes Information

Are you looking for reliable type 2 diabetes cure data? Do you have questions about type 2 diabetes cure that you need answers to? Find out the truth about type 2 diabetes cure.

The Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes may be classified as either type 1 or type 2. A type 1 diabetes is a more severe condition because people suffering from this condition do not produce adequate insulin to regulate glucose levels. It is believed that genetic factors may play a big role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Type 2 on the other hand is characterized by insulin resistance. A type 2 diabetic’s pancreas may be fully functional but the body’s cells are resistant to the influence of insulin and do not take in as much glucose for cell energy production.

What is most common in Americans is the type 2 diabetes. Although it is as devastating as type 1, it can be easier to manage especially when detected early because it does not involve a defective pancreas.

The Type 2 Diabetes Cure

Science has fallen short in providing a type 2 diabetes cure. At present there is no type 2 diabetes cure. Even insulin shots in severe type 2 cases are not considered a cure because an individual would still have to rely on external sources of the hormone to regulate glucose. Some researchers are now currently exploring the possibility of pancreas transplants for type 1 sufferers which may also work for severe type 2 patients. Even transplant research however has not yielded a suitable type 2 diabetes cure. Transplants could be rejected by the host’s cells or still end up failing to supply insulin.

Most individuals who hope for a type 2 diabetes cure simply have to be contented with prevention and treatment. With proper treatment, individuals can lead lives that are close to normal even without a type 2 diabetes cure.

Risk Factors

The most practical thing to do is to treat the condition in its first few stages before it develops into more severe type 2 diabetes stages. Most people would even consider early treatment as a type 2 diabetes cure. Treatment however relies on recognizing the symptoms early. Millions of Americans however do not show any diabetic symptoms until complications that affect the heart, eyes and skin have developed. One way to detect diabetes without the symptoms is to look at the risk factors. A family history of diabetes is most certainly a sign that you should watch over your blood glucose level or at least have it checked regularly. You should also be worried if you are heavier than the ideal weight for your age and height.

Prevention

Prevention is the closest thing you can ever get to a type 2 diabetes cure. Not much can be done if you are genetically predisposed to diabetes. Genetically inherited diabetes can simply be regulated through diet, exercise and medication. A lot can be done however if you have diabetes because of your weight and your lifestyle.

Some researches have shown that development of the type 2 diabetes condition can actually be delayed or prevented if treated in its early stages. Prevention lies mainly in strictly maintaining a planned diet and exercise program. Ask your doctor to teach you how to count your carbohydrates and come up with planned meals to keep your blood sugar level constant.

Want to find out about gestational diabetes symptoms and diabetes facts? Get tips from Diagnosing Diabetes.

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Type one diabetes

Type one diabetes is far less common than type two diabetes and it will affect younger individuals. It is most found in people under the age of 40 and mostly under the age of fourteen. There are people who have been diagnosed with it after forty but it is very rare. Diabetes is a serious issues and type one is the worst. It is associated with the lack of insulin. It is a dysfunction of the pancreas where it will just stop making insulin in the amount the body needs to maintain a normal level of glucose in the blood. Many people who have type one diabetes will have symptoms of hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is where your glucose is too high in the blood. Meaning your blood sugar is too high. The common symptoms of hyperglycemia or diabetes type one is frequent hunger, frequent urinating, and frequent thirst. You will also experience blurred vision, fatigue, weight loss, your healing power will be low (meaning it will take you a long time to heal a wound or cut), dry mouth, dry or itchy skin, and you could have impotence for males. Your immune system will become weak and you will be able to pick up infection easily.

The reason why you are always hungry is because your body can not use glucose as an energy source. It is also, why you tire out easily. Since the body can not absorb sugar or glucose into the blood cells you will release it through frequent trips to the bathroom. Since you make many trips a day to the bathroom, your body realizes that it is losing excess water and that’s why you will become thirsty. When it comes to the symptoms, you may experience them all together or it may take some time for your body to go through the process. Most likely though it will be gradual.

The changes of developing type one diabetes is 3.7 to 20 per 100, 000. Over 700,000 Americans have type one diabetes, which adds up to be about ten percent of the total population that has the disorder. It is more common to have type two diabetes. The reason why people develop the disorder is because an autoimmune disorder. The body will start to see it’s own tissue as a foreign object and then it destroys the body’s ability to make insulin. It has been rumored to be a cause from the mumps, rubella, measles, influenza, polio, or other viruses. That’s why it is very common in young children because those epidemics affect younger children more often than older adults. Diabetes is also genetic. You may simply have the disorder because an immediate family member has it.

As for treatment, type one involves injections of insulin. It is absorbed in the blood stream and absorbed by the cells that need insulin and it will then control the levels of sugar in the blood. You can find more information on http://www.all-about-diabetes-symptom.com/

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Type 2 Diabetes: How To Step It Up To Get It Down

If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you’re not alone. More than 18 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.

For many people with type 2 diabetes, controlling blood sugar is a struggle every day. In fact, a report issued last year by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) showed that two out of three Americans with type 2 diabetes analyzed in a study were not in control of their blood sugar.

It is important to control blood sugar because it lowers the risk of serious health problems later. Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, loss of limbs and kidney disease.

But now, there’s new help to better manage type 2 diabetes. Life and fitness coach Bob Harper of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and a panel of diabetes experts created easy-to-understand and motivational steps people can take to get their blood sugar down. They are called 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control. These steps are different because they can fit easily into everyday living.

“Through my years of coaching and training, I’ve worked with many people with type 2 diabetes and have seen how hard it can be to live with this disease,” said Bob Harper. “But I learned that anyone can change their life. It’s all about finding the right tools and motivation. I urge people with type 2 diabetes to step it up and use the 6.5 Steps and make them a part of their daily lives.”

The 6.5 Steps can help people with type 2 diabetes every day because they focus on the basics of diabetes management: eating healthy, being physically active, monitoring blood sugar and, when appropriate, taking one or more medicines. These all play a part to help lower blood sugar.

Healthy Eating: Healthy eating reduces the risk for complications such as heart disease and stroke. Good choices include many foods, such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nonfat dairy products, beans, and lean meats, poultry and fish. There is no one perfect food, but watching portion sizes is key to a healthy diet.

Physical Activity: Regular physical activity can lower blood sugar levels. It can also help manage weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. There are little things people with type 2 diabetes can do every day to be more active, such as walking with a friend or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Blood Sugar Monitoring: There are two tests for checking blood sugar. One test is the blood sugar monitoring that patients do on their own. It gives people with diabetes a check of their blood sugar level at the time the test is taken. The other one is called the A1C test. The A1C test shows a person’s average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. Experts say that a good A1C goal is 6.5 percent or less for most people with type 2 diabetes.

Medicines: Most people with type 2 diabetes take medicine to help control their blood sugar levels. Many need more than one medicine to help treat the disease in different ways.

For people with type 2 diabetes, it is important that they team up with their doctor or other health care professional and think of them as a partner. They should work with their health care team to make a plan to get their blood sugar under control.

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Why Knowing Your Body Mass Index Can Help You Fight Diabetes

This is how staggering the rise of obesity has become: according to the Surgeon General’s office, the number of obese or overweight adults in this country is 50% higher than it was just a decade ago. Recent studies have projected that 1/3 of the children born in 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes, which was once commonly referred to as adult-onset diabetes and is primarily driven by excessive weight. And perhaps most unsettling of all: over the last ten years the number of deaths directly related to obesity-inspired diseased has increased by 33%.

Obesity contributes to diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. Diabetes leads to an increased risk of heart disease, blindness, limb amputation, and kidney problems. The close relationship between excessive weight and diabetes is undeniable. Which is why it’s so important for those who are either pre-diabetes or have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes to monitor their body mass index.

What is your body mass index (BMI)? It’s an easily calculated number which tells you the percentage of your of body weight that consists of fat. Although this number is not 100% on-the-money perfect, especially when the calculation is based solely on height and weight, it’s a good ball park figure. Certainly good enough to use as a guide if you’re trying to lose weight. Other factors that are normally taken into consideration are sex and age.

The most accurate way to determine your body mass index is by working with your doctor. Not only can he offer you some additional insights into the meaning of the number, he can advise you on how best to start losing weight.

However, if you’d like to get a quick peek at where you fall in the BMI scale, there are a number of online calculators you can use. The quickest path to a calculator is by doing a search for the term “BMI” or “body mass index.” Either will do. But if you’re in even more of a hurry, can try one of these:

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm

After you’ve determined your BMI number, you’ll want to know what it means. As a rough guideline for adults a BMI of less than 20 implies underweight, over 25 is overweight, and over 30 is obese. For a more specific idea of where you fall in the index, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provides a complete Body Mass Index Table for your convenience. You can find it here: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.htm

The bottom line: if you’re overweight, you’re in danger of developing diabetes. This dreadful disease is nearly silent, yet it can cause kidney failure, heart damage, strokes, even the loss of limbs to amputation. This is why it’s so important to keep a close eye on your weight and particularly your body mass index.

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Type 1 Diabetes and the GI Diet

Among my friends growing up was a girl with Type I diabetes.  She stood out because even the most miniscule amount of sugar wasn’t allowed anywhere near her mouth . . . not cake at birthday parties . . . not a small candy bar after a softball game . . . and certainly not a drop of soda at anytime.  While such strictness undoubtedly helped control her condition, I have to wonder how the rigidity played on her quality of life.

All people with diabetes should “eat healthy,”  yet those with Type 1 diabetes also must measure the quantity, type and timing of their food choices – simply ensuring they eat their daily quota of fruits and vegetables won’t cut it.  Focus on blood glucose and insulin levels is key.

You see, most foods are broken down into glucose by digestive enzymes. The glucose is then absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream. The hormone, insulin, then takes the glucose from the bloodstream to either use or store for later.  People who do not have diabetes will produce just the right amount of insulin to cope with the rise in blood glucose that occurs after a meal.

People with Type 1 diabetes, however, are unable to produce insulin; instead they must inject it into their bodies.  To keep their blood glucose level close to normal after eating, they must inject just the right amount of insulin to deal with the food they’ve eaten. The injection should be timed right, so that the insulin arrives in the bloodstream at the same time that the glucose is absorbed into their blood-streams.

Too little insulin (for the amount of glucose coming from the digested food) results in very high blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia. Too much insulin (or not enough glucose coming from the digested food) spurs low blood glucose levels or hypoglycemia.  Every food morsel must be balanced, weighed and measured.

Since my grade school days, there have been many advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery. Knowledge of proper diets have, unfortunately, lagged behind.

Most doctors and dietitians agree that careful monitoring of glucose levels is key to minimizing complications from the disease. The standard diet given to both children and adults is based on a diabetic carbohydrate exchange list which has been shown to be ineffective as many children and their parents struggle to understand or follow the guidelines.

The Glycemic Index diet has proven to be far more effective.  Simply, the Glycemic Index (GI) is a ranking of foods on a scale from 0 to 100 based on the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating.

The group of foods primarily responsible for the rise and fall in blood glucose levels after a meal are carbohydrates. The Glycemic Index provides a ranking of how quickly carbohydrates in food are digested by the body, compared to pure glucose which has a ranking of 100 percent. When carbohydrates are quickly broken down, high levels of glucose are released into the bloodstream very soon after a meal. Some examples of these foods (which have rankings of 70 percent or more) are white breads, potatoes, cornflakes and white rice.

Conversely, foods that contain carbohydrates that break down slowly, and release glucose gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI (a ranking of 55 percent or less). Examples of low GI foods are most fruits, rolled oats, whole-wheat pastas, basmati rice and legumes. Medium GI foods have a ranking of between 56 and 69 percent.

Studies have shown that the GI diet is an effective user-friendly way of controlling diabetes.   For example, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that children who followed the low GI diet enjoyed more stable blood sugar levels, fewer episodes of hyperglycemia and generally better quality of life than their counterparts following the CHOx diet.

In addition, a small study published in the issue of Diabetes Care shows that a low Glycemic diet leads to better blood glucose control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.  Researchers found that the youngsters’ blood glucose levels were in their target range 66% of the time when they were eating low-GI meals but only 47% of the time when eating high-GI meals—a notable difference. The children also required less insulin.

Moreover, a new study has found that eating a high glycemic index (GI) diet may cause faster progression to type 1 diabetes in those people with a genetic predisposition.

Researchers at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Colorado studied whether dietary glycemic index are associated with the progression of islet autoimmunity to type 1 diabetes. Islet autoimmunity occurs when the body develops antibodies to the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas — it is just one step away from Type 1 diabetes.

Investigators studied eating habits of 89 children seen as genetically predisposed to diabetes.  The results published online in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that 89 children developed islet autoimmunity and 17 subsequently developed type 1 diabetes.

While GI levels were not related the development of islet cell autoimmunity, eating a high GI diet did result in a faster progression to type 1 diabetes in children who already had islet autoimmunity.

For these reasons, the GI diet can help prevent the onset of type I diabetes, and definitely make afflicted children healthier with excellent quality of lives so they can even enjoy some occasional birthday cake.  For more information, consult glycemic index chart to better understand food interactions and hidden glucose values.

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