As of 2001, approximately 23,000 residents in Collin County were living with diabetes. In 2002, 47 deaths were attributed to diabetes. Diabetes is likely to be under reported as a cause of death because many decedents with diabetes do not have the disease entered on their death certificate. Studies have found that only about 35% to 40% have it listed anywhere on the certificate and only about 10% to 15% have it listed as the underlying cause of death. Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about 2 times that of people without diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes may account for 5-10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It is the most common chronic disease in school aged children. Approximately one in every 400 to 500 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes. In order to survive, people with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by a pump or injections. There are no known methods to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, previously known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for 90-95% of diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native Americans and some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes. While primarily a disease diagnosed in older adults, clinic-based reports and regional studies indicate that type 2 diabetes is becoming more common among children and adolescents. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by following a careful diet and exercise program, losing excess weight and taking oral medication.

Pre-Diabetes is a term used to distinguish people who are at increased risk of developing diabetes. People are considered to have pre-diabetes if they have abnormally high blood sugar levels as determined by impaired fasting glucose (IFC) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) tests that can be performed by your doctor. It is estimated that around 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are already at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Progression to diabetes among those with pre-diabetes is not inevitable. Studies suggest that weight loss and exercise can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and may return blood glucose levels to normal.

Research studies in the U.S. and abroad have found that lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and exercise, can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults.

Exercise

The health benefits of exercise can never be touted enough. Not only is exercise a key step for diabetics to keep their condition under control, exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of developing diabetes in the first place. Make a pledge to get moving this month and raise awareness about diabetes by participating in these upcoming events!

Join thousands of walkers from around the country by participating in your local America's Walk for Diabetes: http://walk.diabetes.org

Or, you and your children can get involved with School Walk, an event that promotes community building and school spirit: http://www.diabetes.org/schoolwalk

America on the Move is helping people all across America to step up to active living and healthy eating. You can too, by visiting their website at http://www.americaonthemove.org

Diet

A healthy diet is essential for good health. It is important to aim to eat a variety of foods from each of the four food groups to get the proper nutrition you need whether you are a diabetic or not. Watching what you eat can also lead to weight loss, which helps people with diabetes in two important ways. First, it lowers insulin resistance. This allows your natural insulin (in people with type 2 diabetes) to do a better job lowering blood glucose levels. If you take a diabetes medicine, losing weight lowers blood glucose and may allow you to reduce the amount you're taking, or quit taking it altogether. Second, it improves blood fat and blood pressure levels. People with diabetes are about twice as likely to get cardiovascular disease as most people. Lowering blood fats and blood pressure is a way to reduce that risk.

There are a number of websites that can help guide you on the path to healthy eating. While the ones listed here are specifically for diabetics, following their suggestions can help everyone maintain good health.

Virtual Grocery Store - Look here for great recipes to help you get started. Allows you to search by main ingredient or category and includes nutritional information for prepared meal. http://vgs.diabetes.org/recipe/index.jsp

Making Healthy Food Choices: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/healthyfoodchoices.jsp

Reading Food Labels: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodlabel.jsp

Your Guide to Eating Out: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/eatingoutguide.jsp

In addition to using exercise and a healthy diet to keep their condition under control, there are some additional measures that people with diabetes can do to prevent diabetes complications. People with diabetes must carefully monitor their blood glucose levels and keep them under control with exercise, diet, oral medications and/or insulin. Keeping these levels under control can decrease the risk of developing complications in the eyes, kidney and nerves. It is also important for a diabetes patient to keep their blood pressure under control. For every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%. Improved control of cholesterol and lipid (HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) levels can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%. Diabetes can result in vision loss, amputation and kidney failure. It is important for diabetes patients to practice preventive care for these conditions by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeing their doctors regularly. Early detection ant treatment can greatly reduce the number and severity of complications.

Note: Much of the above information was pulled from the American Diabetes Association website. For additional information, visit www.diabetes.org.