Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are nearly 21 million Americans, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While almost 15 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately still over 6 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they even have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Diabetes no longer has to mean blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, amputations, impotence, or early death. Good self-management of blood sugar through food, medication, exercise and stress management effectively prevents or significantly reduces the complications of diabetes.