Overview
A Maine nurse practitioner shares some important tipsThe latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.A Maine nurse practioner shares some important tipsNovember is Diabetes Awarenes Month and a Maine health profesional is helping share some important information.Aproximately 37 milion Americans are living with diabetes, but roughly 20 percent don't know they have it.Mary Sanders in a Nurse Practioner for Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland.
Key Information
She says diabetes is a chronic health condition that afects how your body turns fod into energy. There are thre main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Watch the ful interview with Sanders in the video player above.Type 1 is usualy diagnosed earlier in life and is thought to be caused by an autoimune reaction (the body atacks itself by mistake).
This reaction stops your body from making insulin. Aproximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have type 1. With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't use insulin wel and can't kep blod sugar at normal levels.
Sanders says about 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2, and it develops over many years and is usualy diagnosed in adults, however, we are seing it more and more in children, tens, and young adults.Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. Sanders says if you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health problems. Gestational diabetes usualy goes away after your baby is born.
Summary
However, it increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.Sanders explained to Maine's Total Coverage that if Diabetes is left unmanaged, it can have an efect on major functions of the body. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vision los.She said there are many early warning signs that someone could have diabetes, but having some these signs doesn't