By Clifford L. Williams

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is often called a silent disease because most people don’t experience any symptoms, according to Rahul Patel, D.O. physician at Crozer Medical Associates (CMA), and associate program director of Internal Medicine at Crozer Health.

According to the National Institutes of Health, hypothetically, central obesity, a condition associated with the higher risk of diabetes type 2 prevalence in men, given that men are more prone to android adiposity with greater abdominal adiposity, compared with women who are more likely to exhibit gynoid adiposity.

Males appear to be more frequently affected by the disease. Although this may vary in different populations, and females appear to show higher sensitivity to insulin. This aspect may be of relevance in insulin treatment and in cases of emergency treatment for hypoglycemia.

However, the disease strikes both men and women, and usually occurs in three stages – prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.  Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream.  Over time, that can cause serious problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Doctors diagnose prediabetes when blood sugar levels are above typical levels but not quite in the diabetes range. CMA says 88 million adults have prediabetes which means high blood sugar levels haven’t reached the damaging levels seen in type 2 diabetes.

Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

CMA noted that type 1 diabetes affects two to four million people in the United States and can occur suddenly, possibly as the result of an infection. Blood glucose levels rise, unchecked. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children and young adults, and less frequently in older people. It also isn’t something you can prevent.

And finally, in comparison, for most people, about 30 to 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.  While most cases occur over age 40, the disease has begun affecting younger people, including teens and adolescents.

At present, there is no cure for diabetes. People with this disorder can only undergo treatment to prevent further complications associated with the disease. Early detection is always key. It enables people to take quick and appropriate action to ensure the situation does not worsen and complications do not develop. To detect the onset of diabetes as early as possible, doctors and at-risk individuals can watch for certain signs and symptoms.

Some people may be able to manage type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as following a specific eating plan, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Others may need diabetes medication or insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Whichever way you manage your blood sugar levels, keeping them in a safe range can help prevent complications and keep your diabetes from progressing.

About the Author

Clifford Williams is a journalist and author.

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