"Got Sugar"
Henry Allen Belin, Jr.
Presiding Prelate
Seventh Episcopal District
Rosetta Swinton BSN, RN
Episcopal Director Of Health
November 2001
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of diseases caused by a lack (or not enough) of the hormone
insulin, which causes the level of glucose or sugar in the blood to go up high.
Sometimes the body does not make any insulin or the body doesn’t use insulin
the right way.
What is Insulin? Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar,
for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas is an organ that lies near the
stomach. It makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose or sugar get into
the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make
enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes
sugars to build up in your blood.
When there is not enough insulin, or its not working properly, the sugar levels
in the blood can get very high. When you don’t burn the sugar after you eat,
the body then changes it and stores it as fat. Yes, "fat"! Some refer
to this condition as "sugar" or "sugar diabetes."
It is very important to know your blood sugar level. In order to know your
level, ask your doctor to check your blood sugar or get screened at one of the
health fairs or other programs offered by the church. Ask your health director
as well.
If you have diabetes there must be changes made in your eating habits. You
must eat better and exercise. If you are overweight and do not exercise, your
chances are increased for diabetes. If you have someone in your family with
diabetes, you too are at risk for having this disease.
Why is diabetes dangerous? The complications of diabetes are many. Diabetes
can contribute to problems with the eye and blindness, heart disease, stroke,
kidney failure, amputation, and nerve damage.
People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis
and treatment. People with diabetes may have some or none
of the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme hunger
- Sudden vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Feeling very tired much of the time
- Very dry skin
- Sores that are slow to heal
- More infections than usual
- Sugar in the urine
Where Can I Get More Information?
- See your doctor first
- The following organization(s) may help in your search for more information
on diabetes:
| 
