Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that keeps your body from making or using insulin. Insulin helps turn the food you eat into energy your body needs. When you have diabetes, the process of changing food into energy does not work well. Sugar builds up in your blood. If blood sugar stays too high, it can slowly cause problems to your heart, kidneys, eyes and feet. 

In the United States, 23.5 million adults age 20 or over have diabetes -- about 11 of every 100. In Cuyahoga County alone, about 103,000 adults have been told they have diabetes.

Diabetes is more common in some groups than others. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, people 20 years or older with diabetes, diabetes rates are highest for Puerto Ricans and lowest for non-Hispanic whites. Diabetes affects:  

•  6.6% of non-Hispanic whites

• 7.5% of Asian Americans

• 11.8% of non-Hispanic blacks

• 10.4% of Hispanics, and among them, 8.2% of Cubans, 11.9% of Mexican Americans, and 12.6% of Puerto Ricans.
   

Nationally, the total cost of diabetes is estimated to cost $174 billion a year. That doesn't count the personal hardship that comes from complications of uncontrolled diabetes.

You can work with your doctor to understand your diabetes and stay healthy. This will help you feel better and lower your chances of having heart disease, a stroke or other problems.