Diabetes is a serious disease. Every day in America: · 230 people with diabetes undergo amputation; · 120 people enter end-stage kidney disease programs; and · 55 people go blind from diabetes.But, research studies have shown that people with diabetes can greatly reduce their risk of complications. For example, new cases of adult blindness are up to 90 percent preventable with regular doctor visits and proper screening and care. The future is a daunting place for anyone. For children with diabetes, it promises complications their peers have never considered. These children already know the day-to-day challenges of living with a chronic disease.Diabetes affects every organ system in the body. It is a leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, nontraumatic amputations, nerve damage, stroke and heart attack.Diabetes kills one American every three minutes

New ways of treating diabetes can reduce the risk of severe complications, officials of the American Diabetes Association said.`Implementing the new standards should enable many more people with diabetes to lower their blood sugar levels closer to normal and reduce their risk of potentially life-threatening complications.

A noninvasive tool that measures the skin’s autofluorescence could help doctors determine whether people with diabetes are beginning to develop serious complications, according to a study published in the November issue of Diabetes Care. Researchers in the Netherlands found that illuminating a patient’s lower arm with a fluorescent tube accurately reflects vascular damage caused by the accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products

People with a common type of diabetes can significantly delay the onset or progression of serious complications by increasing insulin injections and tightly controlling their blood sugar level, diet and exercise, a new report indicates.Doctors called it the most important discovery for diabetics since insulin.”Until a cure for diabetes is eventually developed, it will, in fact, revolutionize treatment recommended for all patients with diabetes.People with the most severe form of diabetes can significantly delay serious complications through unusually intense control of their blood sugar levels, according to a landmark study released Sunday.Intensive treatment appeared to delay the onset of complications and slow their progression when compared with a more standard regimen for controlling blood sugar, said Dr. Phillip Gorden, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

AN ANGEL FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, ACTRESS WILL SPEAK ABOUT HOW ADAPTING TO THE CONDITION CHANGED HER LIFE FOR THE BETTER When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four years ago, singer/actress/minister Della Reese knew all too well from the experiences of friends that the disease can be a death sentence. “All I knew was negative stuff, ” she said. “Ella Fitzgerald lost both of her legs and died because of diabetes. Mabel King lost both of her legs and died because of diabetes. Mahalia Jackson, my mentor, died from complications of type 2 diabetes.

DICK CLARK TAKES THE BANDSTAND TO TALK ABOUT DIABETES Dick Clark-of American Bandstand fame-has a new gig: persuading people about the dangers of diabetes and the toll it takes on your heart. Clark should know. On Tuesday, the 74-year-old TV personality told The Herald how he got the disease 10 years ago but kept quiet until late last week, when he began a campaign to raise awareness about diabetes, which affects more than 13 million Americans and is growing significantly. “Two-thirds of people with diabetes don’t even know it.   .

U. S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard M. Carmona will help kick off a diabetes initiative today that will focus on Flint and nine other communities nationwide. The Diabetes Detection Initiative: Finding the Undiagnosed, led by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, expects to reach thousands of adults at high risk for diabetes. Genesee County has the highest rate of diabetes in Michigan, with 20, 000 adults having the disease. National studies suggest easily another……   .

New Message Emerges in Treating Diabetes Eldridge Lee, a real estate broker and adjunct college professor in Fairburn, Ga. , found out that he had Type 2 diabetes more than a decade ago. But he did not take the disease seriously until two years ago, when sky-high blood pressure–a complication of diabetes–led to heart disease. “After coming out of heart surgery, I was sitting with a ventilator down my throat and had a moment of realization that the diabetes, which I had pretty much been ignoring, had led to such grave consequences.

SPECTER OF DIABETES RESEARCHERS SEEK KEY TO PREVENTING POTENTIALLY DISFIGURING DISEASE The telltale sugar levels the test revealed in Vicente Serrano’s blood brought back a ghastly memory for him: His grandmother lost both legs to diabetes. “My mother had diabetes, ” says Serrano. “My older brother has diabetes. My youngest brother is insulin-dependent. But my grandmother. . . ” He shudders. “I got suspicious about my condition. ” Serrano, 65, doesn’t have diabetes.

SINGER JOINS FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES Gladys Knight has a story she wants the country to hear. It’s about a disease called Type 2 diabetes that runs in her family. “This is a serious disease, ” said Knight, singer, actress and author. “There’s so much more people can do. If people are aware, they can keep this under control. ” Best known for legendary hits such as “Midnight Train to Georgia,

KNIGHT’S FOE DIABETES SINGER SPREADS GOSPEL OF DIET AND EXERCISE IN BATTLING CRIPPLING DISEASE THAT STRUCK HER MOTHER, BROTHER, COUSIN Gladys Knight has a story she wants the country to hear. It’s about family, a disease called Type 2 diabetes that runs in families, and her own advice after living with the impact of the disease on her mother, brother and cousin. Saturday, she described that story to a Detroit-area conference at the Ramada-Southfield Convention Center. It was the second in a national series of town meetings she is hosting about the disease.

TO CONTROL DIABETES, GIVE DIET, FITNESS EQUAL TIME Controlling or preventing diabetes is a balancing act, and America is losing its balance. We eat too many unhealthy foods. We don’t exercise enough. We are obese, aging and stressed _ all factors that have contributed to a sixfold increase in diabetes since 1958. There are two types of diabetes _ Type I (insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) and Type II (adult-onset diabetes). Diet is a key in controlling both, but it can only help prevent Type II.

Earlier shots could cut diabetes cases Stacie Byram is hopeful that a discovery by an LDS Hospital researcher might cut the rate of childhood-onset diabetes, a disease that afflicts her and her two brothers. The finding by Dr. David C. Classen is that a tactic new to American medicine-inoculating babies at two weeks instead of two months-just might prevent up to a quarter of the common form of childhood diabetes, as well as other autoimmune illnesses. “

WARM-HEARTED WALKERS BRAVE COLD FOR DIABETES, Hundreds take part to raise money for American Diabetes Association For Maria Salinas, Saturday’s fund-raising walk for the American Diabetes Association was more of a crusade than a stroll from the South Texas Institute for the Arts to Cole Park. Winds gusted to 35 mph under gray skies.

People with Diabetes are at high risk from various health problems such as:

• Heart Disease
• Strokes
• Eye Disease – Possible Blindness
• Nerve Damage – Neuropathy
• Amputation of foot or leg
• Kidney Problems
• Gum Disease
• Loss of teeth

Another health problem associated with diabetes involves the feet, as Diabetes is one of the major causes for lower limb amputation in the year 2004.

Amputation is obviously the last resort concerning problems of the feet, but it is surprising how a small cut or abrasion can lead to such dramatic results in diabetic patients.

Why is the Foot at Risk?

Persistent high blood glucose levels can eventually damage the body’s nerves, causing a loss of sensation (neuropathy). Nerve damage can also cause pain in the legs, arms and hands creating problems in people’s everyday lives. Your GP or Podiatrist should check your feet on a yearly basis, which should include a sensory exam to check for loss of feeling.

Small cuts or abrasions on the neuropathic foot can go unnoticed if daily foot checks are not performed. The cut can easily become infected, which in turn leads to an infected ulceration and could eventually result in the loss of the lower limb. Therefore the importance of daily foot checks, foot care & Diabetes in general cannot be underestimated.

High Risk Factors Leading to Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A small percentage of diabetic patients develop foot ulcerations, some of which may lead on to amputation. The foot is at a higher risk of ulceration if the individual suffers from conditions such as vascular disease or neuropathy. However there are many other factors that can increase risk of ulcers such as: -

• Cold feet or absent foot pulses
• History of Foot Problems
• Foot Deformities
• Limited mobility
• Poor circulation
• Inappropriate shoes
• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels

A painless abrasion or corn can steadily progress to a distressing foot ulcer, and if left untreated skin deterioration may occur.

Many people don’t understand the seriousness of diabetes. It can affect many health issues down the road. There are many diabetes websites that can also answer questions for you. You may need to get a blood glucose monitor also to check his sugar several times a day. My boyfriend is suffering from it and it’s a real burden. How can he make it go away. is it all about the food he puts in his mouth. has anyone else watched it but me. What’s the thing with having diabetes and flights. I heard that I might have problems with my feet and I should buy special socks. I cannot answer anything about the “flights”, but I can really attest to diabetes and feet pain. A lot of diabetics get what is called “Charcot foot”. I have that now and am NOT diabetic, although I am learning that if a specific blood test called a “Hemoglobin A1C” is elevated, then it may be helpful to go thru the whole realm of glucose challenge tests, etc, just to have everything checked out. However, it is predominantly diabetics who suffer with Charcot foot. I am learning that in the beginning of the advanced stages, except for putting orthotics in your shoes, there is not too much that can be done, except soaking the feet (no more than 10 minutes a day in warm water only), wear good socks and perhaps get orthotics for your shoes. Initially I found a Sport/Ski shop that sold orthotics to put in ski boots that really helped, but now it is getting a little more complicated. It does affect 1 in about 2,500 people.

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