1 minute read
Abdominal Wall Hernia
to cope with them. Review your medications, and devise an emergency action plan. Travel with extra inhalers, sufficient oxygen supplies for your condition and possibly with prescription antibiotics in case they’re needed. Although oxygen is often carried on board planes and large ships, it is usually reserved for emergency use and may not be enough for someone with COPD. Traveling with individual oxygen canisters on a plane is typically restricted, so make arrangements with your carrier well in advance of your trip if you must travel with supplemental oxygen.
DIABETES
About 422 million people worldwide (8.5 percent of the global population)46 —and about 34.2 million Americans (10.5 percent of the U.S. population)—are currently living with diabetes. Of the 34.2 million Americans with the disease, about 26.8 million cases (8.2 percent of the U.S. population) are diagnosed and 7.3 million are undiagnosed.47 Officially known as diabetes mellitus, the disease has two forms: In type 1 (also known as insulindependent) diabetes the body fails to produce enough insulin, which helps regulate blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. In type 2 diabetes the body develops a resistance to insulin. Of Americans with diabetes, the vast majority have type 2, with only about 1.6 million having type 1.
The prevalence of diabetes increases with age, with 26.8 percent of Americans age 65 and older having the disease. Every year about 1.5 million new diagnoses of diabetes are made in the U.S. In addition, 88 million Americans age 18 and older have prediabetes, which is characterized by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.48 For more information, see diabetes.org.
Symptoms of untreated diabetes include weight loss, excessive urination, excessive thirst and increased hunger. Both types of diabetes are treatable with dietary measures and/or administration of insulin by injection. Other medications are available for type 2 diabetes. Weight control or weight loss, a nutritious diet and exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes.
