11-17-09

Diabetes

Diabetes is the sixth deadliest disease in the United States, but it can be managed with diet, exercise and medication.

More than 23 million people in the U.S. have diabetes -- a chronic disease in which a person’s body does not produce or properly process sugar.   Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, and a number of life-threatening medical complications.   Dr. Smita Gupta, assistant professor of endocrinology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, describes Type 2 diabetes:

SOUND BITE:  “Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of cases of diabetes.  It occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient amounts of hormone called insulin or the body becomes resistant to normal or even high levels of insulin.  This causes high blood glucose levels which leads to complications if untreated.”

Dr. Gupta says the frequency of Type 2 diabetes is increasing in the U.S. and around the world because of the increase in obesity, especially among young people.  Other risk factors are a family history for the disease, weight gain, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.  Dr. Gupta suggests some treatment options to control one’s own blood sugar.

SOUND BITE:  “The most important component of diabetes management remains diet and lifestyle modification.  And it may alone be enough for early stages of Type 2 diabetes.  The medical treatment consists of oral and injectable medications.  When the blood sugars remain uncontrolled despite maximum doses of the oral medications, then insulin needs to be started.” 

Dr. Gupta says diabetes is related to weight gain and that proper nutrition and moderate exercise will help control or even prevent the disease.   She advises anyone who has one or more of the risk factors to see their personal physician so they can be checked for diabetes and possible lifestyle changes.

This is Ruth Slottag, SIU School of Medicine, in Springfield.