Diabetes is a major health problem in the United States today.

Diabetes affects some 16 million Americans, that converts to about 1 in 16 people having the disease.  Of this number of cases somewhere between and one-third and one-half don't even know they have the disease.  African Americans, Hispanic Americans or Native Americans are more likely to develop the disease.  Diabetes costs the nation billions each year in direct health care costs, lost wages and loss of productivity in the workplace.

 

Some of the food you eat in converted into glucose (sugar) to be used as energy by the body.  The body requires insulin, which is made and secreted by the pancreas, in order for your cells to use this glucose and lower the glucose levels in the blood stream.  When the food you eat is broken down into sugar it begins to enter the bloodstream and the level of sugar begins to rise.  Your body senses an increase in sugar and sends a signal to your pancreas to make insulin and release it in the bloodstream in order to lower the levels of glucose.  There are 2 main types of diabetes.

 

In TYPE 1 diabetes you have an insulin deficiency and your body makes little or no insulin.  Fortunately less than 1 in 10 people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.  This type of diabetes is usually caused from an autoimmune response that destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.  This autoimmune response is usually related to genetic factors, certain diseases or possibly to environmental factors.  People with this type diabetes require insulin therapy to survive.

 

In TYPE 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but your cells cannot use it properly.  This is called insulin resistance.  Your body's ability to make insulin also gradually declines over time leading to insulin deficiency.  Over 9 out of 10 people with diabetes are type 2.  This type of diabetes is treated with diet, exercise, medication or a combination of all.

 

Symptoms for type 2 diabetes occur gradually and many people are not aware of them.  This accounts for the large number of people who do not know they have the disease. Symptoms include:  feeling tired, increased hunger or thirst, increase urination, dry skin, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, slow healing cuts or sores, frequent infections or problems with sexual function.  Should you notice any of the symptoms, please check with your doctor for further evaluation.

 

Diabetes doesn't go away like a cold or the flu, but requires aggressive treatment.  Since your diabetes is constantly changing and you can't go to the doctor everyday, much of the day to day treatment is in your hands.  Today more than ever much of the treatment of diabetes is geared toward self-management.  This involves testing and monitoring therapy in the home.  Patient education about diabetes is the best way to accomplish this.

 

Patient education and testing are one of the ways Vise's Pharmacy can help.  We offer a wide selection of the most popular Meters and supplies to test glucose in the blood at home.  We also offer Diabetes Education classes as well meter training.  We can bill Medicare or private insurance for any services that will be covered also. 

 

Pharmacist Ronnie Vise has been certified by the University of Tennessee in Diabetes Education.  Ronnie is also a member of the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.  Let Vise's Pharmacy help you manage your diabetes.