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About
Diabetes and Hypertension > F.A.Q
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Diabetes and Hypertension
(This website is provided for informational purposes
only and should not be considered as recommending specific treatments
or rendering medical advice. You should not rely on any information
in this website to replace evaluations with qualified health care
professionals to address your specific medical condition. Contact
your health care provider for specific information concerning
your disease and its treatment. Some of the information contained
below is excerpted from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Diabetes Information web site, for up-to-date information visit
their site at http://www.fda.gov/diabetes/).
What is diabetes?
How do I know if I have diabetes?
What factors increase my risk of getting
diabetes?
How will my doctor test me for diabetes?
How can I reduce my chance of getting
diabetes?
I have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes,
why do I also need to be concerned about high blood pressure?
I get my blood pressure taken at my doctor's
office; why should I also take my blood pressure at home?
What disease conditions can result from
diabetes and hypertension?
I have heard that high blood pressure and diabetes can lead to kidney disease, is this true?
I am excited about the DUO-CARE combined blood glucose and blood pressure monitor; do I need a doctor’s prescription to purchase one?
Can I use glucose test strips supplied
by another manufacturer?
Where can I find more information about
diabetes and high blood pressure?
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which blood glucose
(sugar) levels are too high. Cells in the body break down glucose
in order to provide energy for movement, growth, and repair. The
hormone insulin is responsible for regulating glucose levels in
the blood. Abnormally high levels of glucose can damage the small
and large blood vessels, leading to diabetic blindness, kidney
disease, amputations of limbs, stroke, and heart disease.
There are three common types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is
usually (but not always) diagnosed in children and young adults.
Persons with type 1 diabetes make no insulin and must take insulin
every day. Type 2 diabetes is usually (but not always) diagnosed
in adults over the age of 45. In type 2 diabetes, either the person
is not making enough insulin, or the body is resistant to insulin
and cannot use it properly. Gestational diabetes occurs during
pregnancy: 2-4 percent of all pregnant women have gestational
diabetes. If a woman has gestational diabetes, she has about a
40 percent chance of having type 2 diabetes later in her life.
It has been estimated that over 20 million persons in America
have Diabetes mellitus, but many of them don't even know it. Nearly
1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. The disease affects
men and women of all ages and ethnic groups. African Americans,
Latinos, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, and
Pacific Islanders are more greatly affected than other groups.
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F.A.Q
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