Site icon 50BOLD

Questions about type 2 diabetes answered!

diabetes

Diabetes has been categorized as the fifth deadliest disease in this country and sadly, the Black community is directly in its line of fire. According to the American Diabetes Association, 4.9 million Blacks have been diagnosed with the disease. In addition, the complications that arise from diabetes also hit our community hardest. Diabetes retinopathy that affects the eyes is 46 percent more prevalent and kidney failure is 2.6 times more likely to occur in Blacks than in whites who also suffer from the chronic ailment.

There are two main types of diabetes. Folks with type 1 diabetes don’t make insulin. Type 2 sufferers do make insulin but they do not effectively use the insulin they produce. Although there is no cure for type 1 diabetes those who have the second type, may be able to reverse their condition through diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle changes. The bottom line is that glucose is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells, but to enter your cells it needs a key; insulin is that key.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Even though many are afflicted by the disease, they are oftentimes clueless about their condition. Here are some facts about type 2 diabetes that might surprise you:

The higher your A1C level is, the poorer your blood sugar control and the higher your risk of diabetes complications. If you have prediabetes, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Results for a diagnosis are interpreted as follows:

Below 5.7% is normal.

5.7% to 6.4% is diagnosed as prediabetes.

6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.

Exit mobile version