Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. This means that the body is having a hard time converting sugar, starch and other food taken into energy that is needed by our body. Currently, an estimated 100 million people are affected worldwide, and about 5% of the population in the United States has diabetes.

Among those who have diabetes, the most prevalent are those with Type 2 condition. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, and is sometimes called “adult-onset” diabetes. It is usually detected on individuals age 45 and above.

In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin takes the sugar from the cells. When the sugar remains in the blood, it can cause high blood glucose levels that will later affect your eyesight, kidneys, nerves or heart.

However, the increase in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is becoming a health concern for many health practitioners. In fact, Type 2 diabetes is now being identified in young adults. Studies have shown that there is a dramatic increase over the past decades due to many factors, which include more sedentary lifestyles and increasing obesity. And some predict that this numbers will double within the next 20 years.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the US government, screening for Type 2 diabetes should begin at age 25 to slow the development of complications. The complications include blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.

As opposed to the current routine of screening for diabetes at the age of 45 among the general population, the study by the US Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta found that early screening reduced both lifetime healthcare costs and death caused by diseases associated with diabetes. They further showed that when detected at an early age, early treatment can greatly increase the postponement of complications, as well as improve the quality of life of the diabetics.

The study indicated that there is a decrease in lifetime costs of at least $1275 per patient when the patients are screened between the ages of 25 and 34. This was a result from the process made by the researchers comparing the growth of costs from screening among people aged 25 years or older with the savings made as a result of early detection and intervention.

Similarly, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDKK) also recommend that people under age 45 should already be tested especially if they are at high risk. These high risk factors include:

• Being more than 20% above the ideal body weight or having a body mass index of greater than or equal to 27;
• Having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes;
• Being African, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Pacific Islander American;
• Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or having diabetes during pregnancy;
• Having blood pressure at or above 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg); and
• Having abnormal glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes.

Diabetes happens when there is poor management by the body of the insulin. Symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, blurred vision, tingling in the fingers and toes, unusual fatigue and dizziness. When symptoms occur, it’s time for you to get your sugar levels screened by your doctor. Early prevention is the key to a healthier life.

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