Franklin County Health Department

For More Information Call: 564-5559

Diabetes: What is it?
Risk Factors: “Could You Be Living with a Killer?”
Warning Signs
Franklin County Diabetes Coalition

1. Diabetes: What Is It? [ top ]

Diabetes can be defined as a disease in which the body cannot use food in the right way.

It’s not like a cold that you can catch from another person; however, some people are born with the tendency to get diabetes. There are also certain risk factors that make some individuals more susceptible to the disease. In other people, it may be caused by the body mistaking the cells of the pancreas, where insulin is made, for germs. The body will fight against these cells the way it does with germs, unfortunately causing them to stop working all together.

There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2

Type 1 Diabetes:
This is a condition where the pancreas is no longer making insulin. The body is then unable to move sugar (fuel) into the cells for energy and a significant build-up in the blood occurs (hyperglycemia).Treatment Options:
There is no option, if your body does not make insulin, you must take a shot everyday to live. In addition, you must eat healthy meals and snacks. Daily exercise is also very important in helping to control blood sugar.

Type 2 Diabetes:
In this type of diabetes, the pancreas is still making insulin; however, it is not making enough or the insulin is not working as it should for normal control. Again, the result is the sugar builds up in the blood (hyperglycemia), which makes you sick and can damage different parts of your body over time.

Treatment Options:
The first avenue of treatment is diet and exercise. Weight loss will often help lower blood sugar. If this does not help, you may have to take diabetes pills or even insulin shots.

Reference: Lexington County Health Department, PAM-DHS 141, 8/95

New Diagnosis:

Blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 41 million people in the United States, ages 40 to 74, who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.

Research has also shown that if you take action to manage your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.

There are two different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have pre-diabetes: the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

2. Diabetes Risk Factors “ Could You Be Living with a Silent Killer?” [ top ]

Did you know that approximately 1 in every 2 adult Kentuckians are at increased risk for developing diabetes?

If you are:

1. Over 45 years of age
2. Overweight – BMI (body mass index) 25 or higher
3. Have a family history of diabetes
4. Inactive lifestyle: exercise fewer than three times a week
5. You have delivered a baby weighing greater than 9 pounds
6. You had gestational diabetes during your pregnancy
7. African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino Heritage
8. Blood Pressure: 140/90 mm/Hg or higher
9. Cholesterol: Abnormal lipid levels:
a. HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL for men and less thank 50 mg/dL for women
b. Triglyceride level 250 mg/dL or higher

Data Source: Kentucky Diabetes Control Program

3. Warning Signs [ top ]

If you meet one or more of the risk factors for diabetes and you experience any of the following symptoms you should contact your family physician for assessment.

Symptoms of Diabetes:

1. Frequent Urination
2. Increased Thirst
3. Increased Hunger
4. Rapid weight loss/gain
5. Irritability
6. Blurred Vision
7. Nausea and Vomiting
8. Numbness in Hands or Feet
9. Slow healing of cuts or scrapes
10. Fatigue
11. Increased Dental Caries

4. Franklin County Diabetes Coalition [ top ]

The Franklin County Diabetes Coalition was established September 12, 2002. The coalition’s mission is to increase diabetes awareness in Franklin County. We are currently working on several diabetes related programs for our community which include:

*A partnership with the local library to raise diabetes resources available in Franklin County.
*A partnership with Franklin Regional Medical Center to offer free educational programs for the community.

There are currently 20 members on the Franklin County Diabetes Coalition and we are currently looking for new faces to help in fulfilling our mission of increasing diabetes awareness in Franklin County.

In you are interested in becoming a member of the Franklin County Diabetes Coalition please contact Debbie Bell at 502-564-7647 or by email at debbiey.bell@ky.gov

[ top ]