By Dr. Adewale Troutman
Did you know that one out of every eight adults in Kentucky has diabetes? And they're not alone.
Twenty-one million Americans have diabetes — a group of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood which results when the body doesn't use or produce insulin properly. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps regulate the balance of glucose in the blood stream. Too much glucose in the blood indicates pre-diabetes or diabetes. Having diabetes affects the body's other systems and can lead to damage of certain organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, heart, blood vessels and nerves.
You are likely to have diabetes if you have a family history of it, if you are overweight or over the age of 40; if you have a history of gestational diabetes or having a baby that weighed over 9 pounds at birth; if you don't exercise regularly or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Certain races are more prone to diabetes, especially people of color. In Kentucky, and across the nation, African-Americans are almost twice as likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians.
Some of the signs or symptoms that may lead you to your doctor to check for diabetes are: excess fatigue, excess thirst, excess urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, unusual weight loss, sores that heal slowly and numbness and tingling of the feet and hands. Some people with diabetes have no symptoms at all. It's important to have your blood sugar checked right away if you have any of the signs or symptoms of diabetes. If you have a history of the disease in your family or any of the other risk factors, it's important that you have your blood sugar checked regularly by your physician at least yearly.
There is no cure for diabetes but it can be controlled. Getting medical care is very important but self-management on a daily basis is also extremely important. If you are diagnosed with diabetes it's very important that you learn as much as you can about it so you can control it. Learning about diet, exercise, blood glucose monitoring, and proper medical care can help you successfully manage diabetes. Research has shown that people who control their blood sugar have less risk of developing complications from the disease such as blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure and heart disease.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness offers several free classes that can help you in managing diabetes. Our “Power of Prevention: Learning the Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes and How to Prevent It” will be offered May 17 from 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. at Doskar Manor, 411 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd. and on May 21 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at 2900 Dr. William Weathers Drive. Class size is limited so we encourage you to call 574-6663 to register.
We also offer a monthly diabetes support group that meets at the Park DuValle Health Center. For information on other free classes offered by the Department of Public Health and Wellness, such as free exercise classes as well as classes on managing and losing weight, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/health or call us at (502) 574-6663.
