What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not make enough insulin or does not properly use insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to use glucose for energy. When you eat food the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose. Glucose is the basic fuel for cells in the body. Insulin signals the cells to “open up” and take the glucose from the blood.

Know Your Risk:

  • Diabetes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by at least 3-fold
  • Each unit increase in BMI increases Type 2 diabetes risks by 12.1 percent
  • 68-72% of diabetes risk in the US is attributable to or associated with excess weight
  • For every kilogram increase in weight over 10 years, type 2 diabetes risk increases by 4.5%
  • It’s the leading cause of new blindness, end state renal disease, and amputation
  • Accounts for 17% of all deaths after age 25
  • Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in South Carolina
  • After 20 years of disease, 99% of patients with Type 1 and 60% of patients with Type 2 will have some retinopathy

Reduce Your Risk:

  • According to the ADA, every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%) reduces the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%
  • 90% of blindness can be prevented with proper screening and care
  • 85% of amputation can be prevented with implementation of foot care programs that include regular examinations and patient education

Change Your Life to Lower the Risks:

  • Reduction of fat and calorie intake
  • Physical activity at least 150 minutes a week
  • OR weight loss equal to 7% of body weight and maintain weight loss

NEW! PPCP Diabetic Classes

Resources

dLife – For Your Diabetes Life!

Live well with diabetes: From questions about blood sugar to delicious diabetic recipes, dLife is here to help.

My Pyramid – Steps to a Healthier You

One size doesn’t fit all. MyPyramid offers personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help you plan/assess your food choices based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Stoplight Tool for Diabetes – Diabetes Zones for Management

This tool uses the colors of a stoplight to help patients understand the Diabetes Zones for Management, and what to do when blood sugars are in certain ranges.

NovoNordisk

A company committed to changing diabetes
Information About Diabetes
Living With Diabetes
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MerckSource

Comprehensive health information including health news updates and health resources.