Diabetes, the Silent Cause of Amputations
Early Education and Treatment Prevents the Loss of Limbs
By ELEANOR HONG, AOL BODY
Posted: 2007-12-21 11:23:20
Filed Under: Health, Healthy Living

Diabetes continues to grow as one of the nation's most alarming chronic diseases. One out of every 15 Americans live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Many lifestyle factors contribute to the risk of diabetes, including obesity's significance in the rise of type 2 diabetes. And the repercussions are severe: peripheral neuropathy (pain and numbness in the hands and feet), foot deformities and, finally, amputation.

To prevent those kinds of consequences , people who are diagnosed with diabetes need to tackle the disease early on. A recent ABCNews story, "Ignore Warning Signs, Lose a Limb" features the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The National Institutes for Health states that an alarming 60 percent of amputations are caused by diabetes.

Some 21 million Americans have diabetes. But, according to the report, about 6.2 million Americans go undiagnosed -- and often find out too late. As a growing number of Americans are afflicted with type 2 diabetes, many ignore symptoms and treatment. For example, a simple and common convention of diabetics is to examine their feet for potential warning signs. Infections caught early and treated would prevent amputating the feet. Managing care is essential to preventing a catalyst of associated ailments and cancers.

Between 5 to 10 percent of diabetics, affecting roughly a million Americans, have the type 1 disease, an insulin-dependent autoimmune disease. That means the body's immune system turns inexplicably against its own cells, destroying them as if they were foreign invaders.

With the prevalence of an obesity epidemic in the U.S., type 2 diabetes is on an exponential rise, with children and young teens also being diagnosed. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas supplies too little insulin to keep up with the increased demand. Most often, patients are treated with a combination of diet and exercise with medication to increase and moderate insulin supply.

Many health professionals urge screening for pre-diabetes. More celebrities have been vocal about their diagnosis in an effort to educate the public of the importance in treating the disease.

'American Idol' judge Randy Jackson, Nicholas Jonas of the teen pop group, The Jonas Brothers, and Halle Berry are among some famous stars who have come out of the dark about their diagnosis. Even television programs such as TLC reality show, "Little People, Big World" have educated viewers about late diagnosis of diabetes featured in a segment on the health of the family's father, Matt Roloff.

Athletes such as Ron Santo, noted in the ABCNews report, have also been public about their amputations. An all-star baseball player, Santo hid his type 1 diabetes when he played for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox in the 1960s. He eventually lost both legs to the disease by 2002. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Wells has also made his type 2 diagnosis public.

Jackson and actress Delta Burke have been celebrity spokesmen for several diabetes education advocacy groups. With an alarming estimate of 30.3 million diabetics in the U.S. by 2030, the National Diabetes Education Program Progress Report and the American Diabetics Association are ramping up their educational campaigns.

Sources: Diabetes 101: Understanding the disease (CNN Health); Ignore Warning Signs, Lose a Limb (ABC News); Health Tip: Diabetics, Examine Your Feet(HealthDay);

2007-11-27 11:30:29

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