10 Things You Need to Know about Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus refers to a group of diseases in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. In type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. In type 2 diabetes, previously known as adult-onset diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body does not use it properly.

Each year 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. To date, more than 30 million Americans — approximately 10% of the population — have diabetes, mostly type 2. AMong seniors, that percentage jumps to 25%.

How serious is diabetes? It is the seventh leading cause of death in the US, with nearly 80,000 death certificates listing it as a primary cause of death in 2015. More than 250,000 death certificates listed it as a contributing cause of death.

The good news is that while genetic factors do play a role, an unhealthy lifestyle is the primary risk factor in developing type 2 diabetes. And while you can’t change your genes, you can make changes to your lifestyle.

In addition to causing death, diabetes brings with it a wide variety of issues that strongly impact the health and well-being of diabetics.

Here are 10 things you need to know about diabetes and its consequences:

1. One in every three people with diabetes is unaware that they have it.
2. 37% of US adults have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormal, though not enough to be considered diabetes.
3. Up to 30% of prediabetics will develop diabetes within five years.
4. Smokers are 30% to 40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-smokers.
5. Diabetes is the leading cause of foot and leg amputations, accounting for 60% of all cases.
6. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of all cases.
7. Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness.
8. Diabetics spend $2.31 on medical care for every $1 spent by nondiabetics.
9. One in every ten healthcare dollars is spent caring for complications of diabetes.
10. If present trends continue, as many as one in every three American adults will have diabetes by 2050.

At Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Keansburg, NJ, our residents receive the highest quality rehabilitative and skilled nursing care in a homelike and compassionate environment conducive to healing.

Our family-owned and -operated 123-bed facility, is tucked away in the quiet beach town of Keansburg, NJ at the Jersey Shore, within sight of Sandy Hook and the New York City skyline.

Our services include short-term rehab, long-term care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, hospice care, and respite care for those times when the caretaker needs to be taken care of.

We proudly provide the following specialty healthcare services: complex medical care management, intravenous (IV) therapy, wound care, enteral feeding, pain management, oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, a dedicated pulmonary program, hospice care with private suites, a stroke rehab program, respiratory support, eye care, dental care, podiatry care, and psychological consults and counseling.

We pride ourselves on healing the entire patient through a holistic and individualized approach.

Our meticulous care planning helps us ensure that each and every resident receives the best in clinical care, support and unconditional love.

For over 25 years, we have been a staple of health and wellness, serving the members of our community and partnering with our local hospitals like Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, NJ and Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ.

We provide a tailored program of physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as all types of specialized care under one roof.

Read our reviews on senioradvisor.com, wellness.com, and caring.com to hear what our residents and their families have to say.

Or better yet, come see for yourself. Contact us to schedule a tour by clicking here or by calling (372) 787-8100.