Living Jackson Magazine

Diabetic Epidemic

By Kim Bost

According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, our state is included in the area of the nation that has the distinction of the highest rate of new onset diabetes. The actual number is eight or more cases of new onset diabetes diagnosed per every 100 residents.

Including both children and adults, 20.8 million people—7 percent of the population—have diabetes in the United States. However, of this 20.8 million people, 6.2 million—nearly one-third—do not yet know they have this disease. Again, another reason screenings are so important.

Based on these national statistics from the CDC, almost 4,000 people in Jackson County have diabetes—yet some 1,200 of them do not know they have it yet. Because of this increased incidence, we must be diligent in our awareness of all aspects of the disease. Regular screenings are vitally important.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which our bodies either do not produce enough insulin or cannot use what insulin is produced as effectively as normal. Insulin is the “key” that unlocks our body’s cells and allows the sugar or starches, the energy source for all cells, to enter and “feed” the cell.

Without insulin, the sugar cannot move from the blood stream into the cells. Without sugar inside the cells, there is no energy source for the cell to function. The sugar circulates in the blood, resulting in the primary means of diagnosis of diabetes—a high blood sugar.

While there are warning signs of the onset of diabetes, a screening to check blood sugar levels is imperative.

Types of Diabetes
There is an assortment of diabetes types, most of which can be controlled with early intervention. The risk factors and treatment vary for each.

Type I Diabetes: This type of diabetes is characterized by our body’s incapability of producing insulin. This type was formerly known as juvenile diabetes. It is primarily first diagnosed in children and young adults. These patients must rely on an outside source of insulin through an injection or pump for survival.

Risk Factors: Siblings or parents with diagnosis of Type I diabetes.

Type II Diabetes: The most common form of diabetes, Type II diabetes is characterized by a relative decrease in insulin production and a decreased effectiveness of the insulin that is made. This decrease in effectiveness is called insulin resistance. These patients often can be maintained with dietary and exercise changes, and/or medications taken by mouth.

Risk Factors: Pre-diabetes, obesity, family history of diabetes, inactivity (lack of exercise), women with gestational diabetes, people more than 45 years old, people with increased LDL and triglycerides and high blood pressure.

Pre-Diabetes: This is a condition characterized by higher than normal blood sugars, but the values are not high enough to diagnose the patient with diabetes. Recent research has shown that aggressive and early intervention while the patient is in this stage may increase the time, or eliminate, Type II diabetes before it is diagnosed.

Risk Factors: Similar to those listed for Type II diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes: This diabetes is similar to Type II diabetes and develops during pregnancy, usually in the last trimester. It affects 4 percent of all pregnant women.

Warning Signs
Unfortunately, the warning signs of diabetes may not be bothersome enough to warrant a doctor’s appointment. Often people with Type II show no symptoms or warning signs at all. This can delay the diagnosis, so be sure to take advantage of every screening opportunity.

The signs of diabetes, both Type I and Type II, include frequent urination, unusual weight loss, fatigue, extreme thirst/hunger and irritability. Warning signs specific to Type II are blurred vision, frequent infections, tingling/numbness of extremities (hands and feet) and cuts/bruises that won’t heal.

It is imperative to heed these warning signs, because uncontrolled diabetes can affect almost every organ system in the body and lead to other diseases. According to the CDC, diabetics have a greater risk of contracting other diseases than the non-diabetic.
For example, diabetics have a two to four times greater risk of developing heart or cardiovascular disease or having a stroke. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and accounts for 44 percent of all new diagnosis of kidney disease. Diabetic retinopathy results in 12,000-24,000 new cases of blindness each year. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in patients 20-74 years old.

In addition, the rate of amputation is 10 times higher for patients with diabetes. Diabetics account for 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations. And some 60-70 percent of diabetics have mild to severe nervous system disorders, which result in impaired sensation or pain in feet and/or hands, slowed digestion in the stomach or other problems.

Diagnosis & Education
Yes, the diagnosis of diabetes can be scary. The most important take home message is this: Don’t panic. Diabetics can live a long, happy and healthy life if the proper steps are taken. The No. 1 preventive is to be armed with education.

Education will help you control your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol by teaching you protective measures needed to protect your eyes, kidneys and feet. Tiger Town Pharmacy in Commerce offers a diabetes education program that received the prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) accreditation. The ADA establishes a comprehensive set of criteria that the program must meet to obtain this accreditation.

Tiger Town’s course is offered every quarter, with the next dates being June 8-9. The course, taught by a registered nurse and a registered dietician, requires a physician order to enter. Each participant will complete an assessment with the dietician, attend class for one and a half days, and develop an individualized meal plan. Course participants leave with all the tools needed to obtain and maintain control over their diabetes.

Check with area hospitals, which also offer diabetes education.

Remember: Education, paired with the care of your entire health care team, is the key to defeat the diabetic epidemic in Georgia!

Kim Bost, pharmacist, is the owner of Tiger Town Pharmacy in Commerce and Homer Drug in Homer. Bost received her BS and Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia. She resides in Jefferson with her husband, Zeb, and their three children.