Types of diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is when the body has difficulty regulating and using sugar as fuel, which results in too much sugar in the bloodstream. If left untreated, high blood sugar levels can lead to problems with the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems.
Type 1 diabetes (once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes), on the other hand, is when the pancreas makes little or no insulin.
Causes of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by two main problems:
- the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels
- cells in muscles, fat, and the liver no longer take in enough sugar because they have become resistant to insulin
Though the causes of these problems are still unknown, there are several risk factors that affect one’s likelihood of developing the condition. Being overweight or obese is a main risk, and unfortunately, two-thirds of adults in South Carolina are overweight or obese. In addition, holding weight mostly in your abdomen instead of your hips and thighs indicates an increased risk. A family history of type 2 diabetes is a risk as well as being over the age of 45.
Diabetes in Women
In women, polycystic ovarian syndrome, developing gestational diabetes when pregnant, and giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds increases the risk of developing diabetes.
Finally, prediabetes, which 34.9 percent of South Carolina’s adult population has, can turn into type 2 diabetes.
Can type 2 diabetes be cured?
As of 2022, there is no cure for diabetes, though exercise, losing weight, eating well, and medication can help manage the condition (Mayo Clinic).
Diabetes statistics in South Carolina
South Carolina has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the United States. In 2018, we were ranked 8th in prevalence of diabetes, but in 2020, we jumped to 6th highest prevalence. A whopping 13.2% of South Carolina’s population has type 2 diabetes, which is over 530,000 people. Every year, another 35,000 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. An additional 120,000 people in South Carolina have diabetes but don’t know it. Because symptoms of diabetes develop slowly over time, it is easy for them to go unnoticed.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
- blurred vision
- slow-healing sores
- frequent infections
- increased hunger and thirst
- fatigue
- numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
- frequent urination
- unintended weight loss
- areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits or neck
Risk factors for developing diabetes
The risk of getting diabetes increases with age, and one in four South Carolinians over the age of 65 have type 2 diabetes. 1 in every 8 white people have diabetes, while one in every 6 African-Americans have diabetes (SCDHEC).
Long term complications of diabetes
In South Carolina, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death, with an average of four diabetes-related deaths happening every day. Diagnosed diabetes costs an estimated $5.9 billion every year in our state. This is because diabetes often leads to other severe health complications, like heart disease, stroke, neuropathy, kidney diseases, eye damage, amputation, and death (SC Fact Sheet).
People diagnosed with diabetes typically spend 2.3 times more money annually on medical expenses with an average being $16,750. In 2018, about 33,000 hospitalizations and emergency department visits occurred in South Carolina due to complications of diabetes.
Prevention of Diabetes
While diabetes is incurable, it is manageable with lifestyle changes. However, if possible, prevention is key. Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle can prove the best defense when it comes to diabetes.
Contact Attorney David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation
If you or someone you care about has suffered medical negligence due to diabetes, please schedule your free consultation by calling the Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.
We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put our years of experience to work for you!
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