Nevertheless, more Americans than ever are afflicted with this disease. It has the fastest-growing death rate in the US and increasingly attacks people of a younger age. According to a recent New York Times article, type 2 diabetes is now epidemic in proportion.
Type 1 diabetes affects 5% of all people with diabetes and occurs mostly in people under the age of 20. In this condition, the pancreas produces insufficient insulin to maintain normal glucose (blood sugar) levels.
The vast majority of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by hyperglycemia (excess blood sugar) and insulin resistance. It can cause not only vision loss, but kidney failure, nerve damage, cardiovascular (heart and other artery blockage) disease, as well as increased infections and slowed healing, sometimes resulting in amputation. Seniors are particularly at risk for this disease.
Do you know a senior with Type 2 Diabetes?