Diabetes is one of the most deadly diseases in the United States, but there are ways to manage, prevent and treat it before complications occur.

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes lifethreatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, amputations and nervous system disease, according to Nancy MacKay, public health nurse administrator for the South Brunswick Health Department.

Two out of three diabetics die from heart disease and stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The ADA also notes that complications from diabetes cause more American deaths than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

“Diabetes is such a serious problem, an epidemic among children, adolescents and adults in the U.S.,” MacKay said.

Though the statistics are grim, there are various ways to prevent, treat and manage the disease in order to ensure a long and healthy life, according to the ADA. One of the ways to do so, according to the ADA, is to learn all about the disease, including the various symptoms and methods of treatment and prevention.

The South Brunswick Health Department in conjunction with the Princeton HealthCare System will sponsor a fiveweek educational program in June for anyone dealing with diabetes, particularly those diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes and their caregivers.

“We think it’s really important to get to the people who have it,” MacKay said. “It is a crucial public health issue.”

People who attend the educational program will learn strategies to help prevent health complications caused by diabetes, and those with pre-diabetes, which occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, and will learn how to halt their symptoms from developing further, according to MacKay, who coordinated the program.

The sessions, which will take place every Wednesday from 10:45 a.m. to noon in the Municipal Center, starting June 2, will host guest speakers from the Princeton HealthCare System.

Topics will include diet, such as calorie counting; exercise, which will be taught by a physical therapist; foot care, which MacKay said is imperative, given the fact that people with diabetes often lose feeling in their extremities, causing them to overlook infections; and eye care, since diabetes can lead to blindness if certain symptoms are not dealt with early on.

It has been conclusively proved through a Diabetes Prevention Program Study that people with pre-diabetes, which affects approximately 57 million Americans, can prevent their symptoms from developing into type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity, according to the ADA.

“Oftentimes [complications] can be prevented by diet and exercise,” MacKay said. “Routine exercise can possibly reduce your blood sugar levels.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which a person’s blood sugar is unusually high. When the body intakes food, it breaks down all sugars and starches into glucose, the primary fuel for cells in the body. Diabetes is caused by a person’s inability to either produce or its rejection of insulin, which is a hormone needed to convert the sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells reject the glucose, causing the sugar to build up in the system and subsequently leading to complications.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, affects only 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes and is often diagnosed in children and young adults. Symptoms of this type of diabetes, which occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, include frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability, according to the ADA.

Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form, results from both insulin deficiency and resistance. Type 2 has the same symptoms as type 1 and also includes frequent infections, blurred vision, tingling/ numbness in the hands and feet, and cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, according to the ADA. Of the 24 million people in the US affected by diabetes, there are approximately 6 million who are unaware that they have the disease, due to a lack of prevalent symptoms, according to the ADA.

The third form of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy and is usually diagnosed at or later than 28 weeks. Women who acquire gestational diabetes did not necessarily have it before pregnancy and may not have it after giving birth, according to the ADA. Either way, the association notes, it is imperative that these women follow certain procedures regarding blood glucose levels, as recommended by their doctors, to ensure that both she and her baby remain healthy.

Insulin therapy and other forms of treatment, including oral medications, can help people with diabetes manage their disease and avert health complications.

The South Brunswick course, which is free of charge, will delve into the specifics of prevention and management of diabetes using professional resources. In addition, each participant will receive a free glucometer, a device used to determine the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood.

Many South Brunswick residents do not have health insurance, according to MacKay, so this program offers a free resource to those who may not be able to attend other costly programs. Even if they do have insurance, she said, it is often helpful and more comfortable to have things nearby.

Interested persons must register by May 10 by calling 732-329-4000, ext. 7237 or 7238. Seating is limited.

BY JENNIFER BOOTON Staff Writer
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