Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Without insulin the body cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood. Over a period of time, high blood sugar can damage the cells in the body leading to problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, nerve damage and leg amputations.


Major Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes
  
• Type 2 diabetes 
  
• Gestational diabetes 
  
• Pre-diabetes 
  

Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes. More than 897,000 people in Ohio and more than 200,000 in Central Ohio have the disease. Prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes among people aged 20 years or older in the United States, 2007 Age 20 years or older: 23.5 million or 10.7% of all people in this age group have diabetes. Age 60 years or older: 12.2 million or 23.1% of all people in this age group have diabetes.

Men: 12.0 million or 11.2% of all men aged 20 years or older have diabetes.
Women: 11.5 million or 10.2% of all women aged 20 years or older have diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Without insulin the body cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood. Over a period of time, high blood sugar can damage the cells in the body leading to problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, nerve damage and leg amputations.


For more information visit www.diabetesohio.org

Basketball Clinic for 5th - 8th graders and FREE screening for the whole family
Saturday, September 26th at the Ward YMCA