Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism (the body's way of digesting food and converting it into energy). There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications.
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- Q Can eating red meat increase the risk of diabetes?
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Eating a daily serving of red meat (beef, pork, lamb) or processed meat (bacon, hot dogs, sausage, many deli meats) is a big risk for type 2 diabetes. For example, a small daily serving of beef (less than a typical burger) ups your diabetes risk... Full Answer
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- Q What is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)?
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Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) gets its name from the fact that it is chemically similar to glucagon, but, like insulin, it lowers blood sugar. GLP-1 is made by cells in the intestine after eating, and it travels via the bloodstream to the... Full Answer
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- Q What is a DPP-4 inhibitor?
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A DPP-4 inhibitor is a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It comes in the form of a pill. DPP-4 medication can be taken alone or in a combination pill that also contains another diabetes medication called metformin. DPP-4... Full Answer
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- Q How was insulin discovered?
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In 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting investigated whether diabetes might be related to pancreatic function. Two years later, he tested an insulin extract on a 14-year-old boy with severe diabetes who was close to death. The boy responded well to the treatment,... Full Answer
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- Q Can eating sugar cause diabetes?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyDiabetes is caused by metabolic dysfunction and not by sugar. While it may be hard for you to metabolize sugar due to your metabolic condition, it is not the sugar per se that causes the condition. That said, if you lead a stress-filled life and... Full Answer
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- Q How is diabetes diagnosed?
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The most common way to diagnose diabetes in children and nonpregnant adults is through blood tests. These tests measure milligrams of blood sugar per deciliter, which is expressed by mg/dL. One test, the fasting blood glucose test, is usually performed... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of diabetes?
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Just as there are many different types of diabetes, there are many different types of diabetes symptoms. In certain types of diabetes, such as pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes, there may be no symptoms at all. In Types 1 and 2 diabetes, symptoms... Full Answer
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- Q Does type 2 diabetes run in families?
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You are at a higher risk factor for type 2 diabetes if one of your immediate family members, such as a parent or sibling, has developed this condition. Know your family medical history. Sharing this history with your doctor is an extremely important step... Full Answer
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- Q What increases my risk for diabetes?
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmacyThe risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not well understood, but a family history is believed to raise the odds of developing the disease. A number of factors can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. These include: having a family history of... Full Answer
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- Q What is a home blood sugar (glucose) test?
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A person with diabetes uses a home blood sugar (glucose) test to measure the level of glucose in his or her blood. The test can be done on a daily basis at home or anywhere, using a small portable machine (blood glucose meter). A home blood sugar test... Full Answer
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