10 Surprising Facts About Diabetes
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have a variety of causes, symptoms, and treatments.
But there are many little-known facts about the disease that may surprise you!
Here are some of the strangest truths about the worldwide diabetes epidemic.
- Almost 6 percent of the world’s population is affected by diabetes!
- People with Asian heritage have five times the rate of diabetes that Caucasians have. The country with the most diabetics in the world is India, with 40 million. This number is expected to grow to 70 million by the year 2025! Indians are prone to diabetes due to central weight distribution in the body and insulin resistance.
- Most children who get diabetes are not overweight. This is because most kids with diabetes have Type 1, an autoimmune disease that they are born with.
- Every year it is estimated that 3.2 million people die of diabetes or its related causes.
- Diabetes is known as a “silent epidemic” because there are few outward symptoms of the disease. One of the primary symptoms of diabetes is a constant thirst. Also, frequent urination, dizziness, and shaky limbs are common symptoms of diabetes.
- Diabetes is the primary cause of kidney failure worldwide. It is also one of the leading causes of blindness and limb amputations in adults.
- The United States has spent about $200-400 billion dollars to treat diabetes. Surprisingly, the disease is growing fastest in developing countries, in lower income groups.
- Extreme cleanliness has been linked to childhood diabetes. With little to no contact with germs, kinds may not be developing healthy immune systems.
- Skipping breakfast puts you at risk. While it’s important to limit calorie intake, people that skip breakfast have a larger waist circumference and higher cholesterol than people that regularly eat breakfast.
- There is a sleep connection. People who sleep less than six hours a night are three times more likely to develop glycemia, which is a precursor to diabetes. In addition, too much sleep can be risky. Those who sleep more than 8 hours a night may be twice as likely to develop diabetes as others. It seems like the best bet is to go for 7 or 8 hours a night!
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...