By Mary Gynn, RN, BSN, MSN/MS, MPH, Diabetes Educator

As a diabetic, most of you know that Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic dis-order characterized by abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fat, which should be eaten at every meal. In there lies the dilemma. Lack of diabetes education can cause chronic sustained exposure to these abnormalities resulting in in-convenient long term, painful, costly, complications. My previous Senior Voice monthly articles have focused primarily, on Type 2 diabetes.

I have written about the risks of Type 2 diabetes increasing with age, obesity, physical inactivity and the possibility of a first-degree relative with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs more frequently in women with prior gestational diabetes and in individuals with hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, high un-treated stress levels and noticeable craving for sweets. Type 2 accounts for one-quarter to one-third of adolescents and an older population with what is called “late-stage” diabetes. Unfortunately, approximately one-third of Americans with diabetes re-main undiagnosed.

As a registered nurse diabetes educator, in these articles and in my diabetes classes, I write and talk about the complications that self-management education could help avoid. The list of complications include loss of vision, renal/kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation, amputations, heart attacks and strokes all leading to prematurity mortality. Because of the “silent” onset of type 2 diabetes up to 50% of individuals already have complications at diag-nosis. And the cost of the diabetes epidemic is now up to $850 billion a year resulting in a major burden on our health care system. My suggestion for 2018 is for all diabetics to seek a diabetes education class taught by a certified, qualified health provider who can speak to all aspects of the disease. Look for a diabetes educator who addresses your self-management and speaks in understandable language versus language that is used when they are talking with other medical professionals.