I was watching this on E! last night called Celebrity Medical Nightmares and I thought I'd tell people, who didn't already know the dangers and what 2 look out for.

Here's an overview on Diabetes: Association Home Page
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.

With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

Recently Diagnosed?
This area of our Web site can help ease your fears and teach you more about living with diabetes or caring for someone with diabetes, and connect you with others affected by diabetes who will listen and share their own experiences.

Visit the Recently Diagnosed area of diabetes.org


Major Types of Diabetes



Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes
Immediately after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually, type 2.

Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 23.6 million with diabetes.

Diabetes Statistics

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There are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5% from 2005-2007. Only 24% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 30% in 2005 and from 50% ten years ago.

With so many people affected by diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has compiled diabetes statistics on the impact of the disease and its complications.

Further Reading . . .
Diabetes 4-1-1: Facts, Figures, and Statistics at a Glance offers media professionals, government employees, and students access to up-to-date accurate numbers and solid facts about diabetes from the preeminent diabetes source.

For more diabetes materials, click here.


Total Prevalence of Diabetes & Pre-diabetes
Read more detailed information on the prevalence of diabetes, and how it affects different races/ethnicities.

Complications of Diabetes in the United States
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications and certain populations experience an even greater threat. Good diabetes control can help reduce your risk, however many people are not even aware that they have diabetes until they develop one of its complications.

The Dangerous Toll of Diabetes
Based on death certificate data, diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002. Studies indicate that diabetes in generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly in the cases of older persons with multiples chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the toll of diabetes is believed to be much higher than officially reported.

Direct and Indirect Costs of Diabetes in the United States
The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion. Medical expenditures totaled $116 billion and were comprised of $27 billion for diabetes care, $58 billion for chronic diabetes-related complications, and $31 billion for excess general medical costs.

National Diabetes Fact Sheet (PDF)
This is the official Fact Sheet developed jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, and other partners. The Fact Sheet is the authoritative source of information, statistics, and national estimates on diabetes in the United States.

The National Diabetes Fact Sheet was compiled using these methods and resources. (PDF)

Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. for 2007 (PDF)
An authoritative study of the direct and indirect costs of diabetes conducted by the American Diabetes Association and endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The World Health Organization's Report -- Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment (PDF)
The report makes the case for urgent action in countries all over the world to halt and turn back the growing threat of chronic diseases, and dispels the long-held misunderstandings about heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases.

I'm writing this for anyone that has witnessed or have tried suicide themselves and to remind the people that have tried it that it doesn't just affect you, but everybody around you as well.

Here are some of the things to look out for: Ideation (thinking, talking or wishing about suicide)
Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)
Puposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging)
Anger
Trapped (feeling like there is no way out)
Hopelessness (there is nothing to live for, no hope or optimism)
Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies)
Anxiety (restlessness, irritability, agitation)
Recklessness (high risk-taking behavior)
Mood disturbance (dramatic changes in mood)

If you or anybody you are having suicidal thoughts here are some #'s and websites you can call/visit: www.save.org/ and (952) 946-7998
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ and 1-800-273-TALK
www.afsp.org/ and 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
www.yellowribbon.org/ and 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/index.html and 800-CDC-INFO(800-232-4636)TTY: (888) 232-6348

Thank you all 4 ur time and patience

Robin Buckley