Prime Time Monthly | Page 14

14 November 2016 Eugene Sun, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico W hat is diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body has high blood glucose levels (blood sugar) because the body does not produce enough of a hormone called insulin, the cells in the body do not respond properly to the actions of insulin, or both. I have heard that there are two different types of diabetes. What is the difference between the two? Type 1 diabetes, or insulindependent diabetes, occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make PRIME TIME Ask a Health Care Professional insulin. The cause is unknown. Insulin helps cells throughout the body use glucose in the blood to generate energy to function properly. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults. Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulindependent diabetes, occurs when the body is not able to use the insulin produced by the pancreas effectively. Type 2 diabetes is commonly caused by a combination of being overweight and inadequate physical activity. In the past, this disease occurred primarily in adults, but with increasing levels of obesity around the country, it is occurring in children more frequently. How common is diabetes? A little over 9 percent of Americans have diabetes, or about 30 million people. About 5 percent of those have type 1 and the rest type 2. Almost 26 percent of Americans 65 and older have diabetes. The risk for diabetes rises with increasing age. How does diabetes affect one’s health? Over time, diabetes can cause damage to a number of organs in your body including the brain, eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and others. Diabetic patients have a higher risk for stroke, blindness, heart attack, nerve damage and kidney failure. The risk of long-term complications is higher for people with poorly controlled diabetes. Should I be tested to see if I have diabetes? Yes! About 30 percent of the diabetics in this country have not been diagnosed. Your doctor can order a blood test called a fasting plasma glucose, which is done first thing in the morning before you have eaten anything. A normal level is less than 100 mg/dl. Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dl indicate pre-diabetes, and levels 126 mg/dl and higher indicate diabetes. Is there a cure for diabetes? Unfortunately, there is no cure for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, however, there are medications and steps one can take that can help to keep diabetes in control. People with Type 1 diabetes must be treated with insulin. People with type 2 diabetes can help themselves by watching their diet, losing weight if they are overweight and exercising more. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe medications, including insulin, to help control your blood glucose Maximize Your Impact With A Life Income Plan Your parents want to stay in the place they call home. We can help. In the immediate aftermath of a flood and in the everyday crisis of life The Salvation Army is there to serve. Your gift will support these vital services. ■ Gifts that pay you income for life ■ Relief from taxes ■ Income now or later ■ Support your community Since 1865 ONE-LIFE GIFT ANNUITY RATES Whether you are looking for someone to help an aging parent a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance, Home Instead can help. Home Instead CAREGivers can provide a variety of services. Some include: levels. Is it really that important to control blood glucose levels? Absolutely! Medical research has conclusively demonstrated that the better blood glucose is controlled over time, the lower the risk for organ damage and complications. Stroke, kidney failure, heart attacks and other complications are debilitating and can be fatal. It is important to know whether you have diabetes, and if you do, it is very important to work with your doctor to control it. With a combination of medications, diet, and exercise, you can lower your risk for serious complications! If you have a health question or idea for an article that you would like to be considered in Ask a Health Care Professional, please e-mail AskHealthCareProfessional@ bcsbsnm.com. BCBSNM will select questions that may appear. Questions will not be personally answered. The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of BCBSNM. This column is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Call for a free, no-obligation appointment Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90+ 4.7% 4.8% 4.8% 4.9% 5.0% 5.1% 5.3% 5.4% 5.5% 5.7% 5.8% 6.0% 6.2% 6.4% 6.6% 6.8% 7.0% 7.2% 7.4% 7.6% 7.8% 8.0% 8.2% 8.4% 8.7% 9.0% Two-life rates available. Rates subject to change. For information call 800-479-0210 or return coupon. 505.884.0353 Name(s) • • • • • • • Companionship Care Personal Care Meals & Nutrition Transportation Household Duties Respite Care Hospice Care Support Services • Alzheimer’s Care Address City, State, Zip Age(s) Phone ( ) E-mail HomeInstead.com/144 Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated. © 2016 Home Instead, Inc. The Salvation Army Jerry Robison, Planned Giving Director 2707 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008 E-mail: [email protected] Visit: www.sarmygift.org © 2016 The Salvation Army PTN ACGA2