D I A B E T E S
WHY EVERYONE IS A TARGET
Diabetes Mellitus affects nearly 16 million people in the United States,
yet only 40%-50% of these people are diagnosed.
Due to the slow onset of serious side effects and symptoms of patients with Diabetes Type II, it can take as long as ten years for some of these patients to be diagnosed. For many, the damage has already been done. They are already experiencing the detrimental effects of long term elevated glucose levels such as:
- Microvascular Complications
- Retinopathy
- Skin Conditions
- Gum Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Amputations
- Neuropathy
- Cardiovascular Disease
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus, Type I and Type II.
Diabetes Type I accounts for about 10% of all cases of diabetes and is characterized by a lack in the ability of the pancreas to produce and secrete insulin. Type I is an autoimmune disorder in which the bodies immune system has attacked and killed the insulin producing Beta cells of the Pancreas. This type requires a life long insulin dependence.
Diabetes Type II makes up more than 90% of all Diabetes mellitus cases. Type II diabetics may have normal or even increased insulin secretion, but the insulin's target cells have become less sensitive than normal to the insulin hormone. Various genetic and lifestyle factors, most notably obesity, are important in the development of Type II diabetes.
How is Diabetes Type II Treated?
For the treatment of Type II Diabetes, there are four classes of oral medications currently available to use in conjunction with diet and exercise.
- The first class stimulates the Beta cells of the pancreas to secrete more insulin then they do on their own.
- The second class suppresses the liver's output of glucose.
- The third class slows down the glucose absorption from the digestive tract into the blood stream, thus lessening the surge of glucose after a meal.
- The final class makes the insulin target cells more sensitive to the insulin hormone.
Exercise is also useful in the management of both types of diabetes, because working muscles are not insulin dependent. Exercising muscles take up and use some of the excess glucose in the blood, thus reducing the overall need for insulin.