The month of November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects 25.8 million people. Every year, 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 , and gestational. These can also cause further complications such as visual impairments, kidney damage, nerve damage, and problems with the heart and vascular system.
Type 1 diabetes is usually referred to as juvenile diabetes, because mostly children and young adults are determined to have it. Only 5% of diabetic patients have type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body is not capable of producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone created in the pancreas to pull glucose from the blood stream and into the body’s cells to produce energy. Genetics and exposure to certain types of viruses may leave the child more susceptible to type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is also known as hyperglycemia. With type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not use insulin properly. The body may produce a small amount of insulin but not enough that all of the organs need to function properly, or it resists the effects of insulin altogether. Many times, type 2 diabetes goes undiagnosed for years until other complications arise from having unbalanced glucose levels for a long period of time. Type 2 diabetes is thought to be genetic. It can also occur as a result of obesity. There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but with treatment, proper blood glucose levels can be maintained.
The third, and less common, type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This occurs in pregnant women, usually around the 24th week of pregnancy, when the mother develops high blood glucose levels. Women may not have diabetes before becoming pregnant or after delivering the baby. With gestational diabetes, the pancreas is constantly producing insulin, but the insulin does not lower blood glucose levels. If not treated properly, the baby’s pancreas makes extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose that the mother’s body is producing. Since the baby’s body is receiving more energy than it needs to develop, it stores in the baby’s body as fat. With gestational diabetes, the mother’s blood sugar level usually returns to normal shortly after delivery.
The good news is that there are ways to help maintain your blood glucose levels. It is important to check your blood glucose levels on a regular basis with a glucometer. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise can help combat the symptoms as well.
Diabetes can affect the circulation of blood flow to your feet, so it’s important to keep your feet clean and taken care of. ACG wants to help you maintain your foot health. We are offering a 10% discount on our SensiFoot diabetic socks. These are made of a special yarn that wick moisture away from the skin. They have a non-irritating seam in the toe that reduces friction and irritation. They also have an antibacterial, antifungal finish that prevents odor and inhibits growth of bacteria on the sock. Finally, they have a light compression that helps promote proper circulation.
We also have an in-store coupon for $1.50 off of Topricin. Topricin is an all natural, pain relieving cream that works by draining the toxins and fluids in an injured area and pushing oxygen into cells and increasing proper blood flow so that the area can heal. Topricin Foot Therapy Cream is one of the few products on the market that has been shown to be affective in treating neuropathy.
For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association. You can also share your stories about living with diabetes on social media using the hashtag #ThisIsDiabetes.