20 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT DIABETES

20 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT DIABETES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF:

1.     Etymology: The word “diabetes” comes from Greek, meaning “siphon,” referring to the excessive urine output in uncontrolled diabetes. “Mellitus” (Latin for “honey” or “sweet”) was added when physicians discovered that the urine of people with diabetes is sweet due to glucose.

2.    Ancient Recognition: The earliest recorded mention of a disease resembling diabetes dates back to the Ebers papyrus (1500 B.C.), which included remedies to manage frequent urination.

3.    Insulin Discovery: Insulin, essential for managing diabetes, was named after the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas (from the Latin “insula,” meaning “island”).

4.    Pancreas Link: In 1889, Oskar Minkowski discovered the connection between diabetes and the pancreas by removing a dog’s pancreas, leading to diabetes.

5.    Pre-Insulin Era: Before insulin’s discovery, diabetic patients often faced starvation diets, and gangrene was a severe complication.

6.    Tragic Case: In 1996, a 16-year-old girl died in Pennsylvania because her parents relied on prayer instead of providing her with diabetes medicine.

7.    Type 1 Diabetes and Viruses: Some studies suggest a link between Type 1 diabetes onset and viruses like mumps or Coxsacki.

8.    Disparities: African-Americans and Hispanics have higher rates of Type 2 diabetes than whites, with varying death rates.

9.    Diabetes and Alzheimer’s: Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

10.    Amputations: Approximately 86,000 lower-limb amputations occur annually among diabetics in the United States.

11.    Heart Attack Risk: Diabetics are more likely to die from heart attacks than non-diabetics.

12.    Prevalence: Over 29 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and 1 in 5 may not know they have it.

13.    Kidney Failure: Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases.

14.    Type 2 Symptoms: Type 2 diabetes often presents without noticeable symptoms.

15.    Prediabetes: About 98 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, with most unaware of their condition.

16.    Eighth Leading Cause of Death: Diabetes ranks eighth among causes of death in the United States.

17.    Diabetes and Blindness: Diabetes contributes to cataracts and blindness in a significant percentage of cases.

18.    Unknown Reasons: The link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s remains unclear.

19.    Gender and Amputation Rates: Rates of amputation are higher among men and African-Americans.

20.    Dietary Misconceptions: Contrary to popular belief, diabetes isn’t solely caused by excessive sugar consumption.

Remember, awareness and education are crucial in managing diabetes effectively.

With thanks to follwing sources

1. nm.org 2. apollosugar.com3. cdc.gov 4. factretriever.com 5.v en.wikipedia.org