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The goal of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is to reduce the burden of diabetes in Illinois communities through community collaboration, integration of diabetes prevention and education efforts into all chronic disease interventions in the community and provision of activities and interventions in the community that build the presence of diabetes prevention and education.
What can we do for you?
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Are you diabetic or know someone in your family who is?
Come to one of our support groups!
Diabetes Support Group is held on the 2nd Thursday of every month; except December and January, when we do not meet.
Watch and listen for the time and location in the local paper and radio station.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that affects more than sixteen million people in the U.S. Many people call diabetes, "High Blood Sugar", because persons with diabetes have a very high level of sugar, called glucose, in their body. Glucose is used by the body as the major source of energy.
Your body gets the glucose from the food and drinks that you consume. The person with diabetes is unable to use glucose for energy. As a result, the glucose or sugar remains in the blood rather than being used for fuel.
The body hormone that lowers the blood level of glucose is insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. When you eat, insulin helps the body use the foods that provide energy. A person with diabetes makes little or no insulin or makes insulin but can't use it.
Who is at risk?
Diabetes is not contagious. People cannot "catch" it from each other. However, diabetes is more likely to occur in people who:
are over 45 years of age.
are overweight.
have a family history of diabetes.
have had diabetes during pregnancy.
have given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds.
have high blood pressure.
are African American.
are Hispanic American.
are Native American.
have a HDL less than 35 mg/dl
have a triglyceride level of 250 mg/dl or above.
These are risk factors for diabetes. Any member of your immediate family(mother, father, sister, brother, children) who has three or more of these risk factors should be tested for diabetes.
Symptoms
Increased Thirst
Frequent Urination
Extreme Hunger
Loss of Weight
Easily Tired
Slow Healing Wounds
Dry Itchy Skin
Blurred Vision
Numbness or Tingling in Hand
What are the different types?
Type 1
No one knows the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes, but the following may be contributing factors:
A history of Type 1 diabetes in the family.
Viruses that have injured the pancreas.
A problem with the body's defense system that has destroyed the insulin-making cells in the pancreas.
People with Type 1 produce no insulin and must take insulin shots daily.
Type 2
In Type 2 diabetes, the body may make insulin, but it either doesn't make enough or can't use the insulin it makes. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. At least 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. Although it can occur in younger people it most often begins when people are over 40 years of age and overweight. Treatment for Type 2 includes medication, diet and exercise.
Are you at risk? Take the 'at risk test' | close
'Online Diabetes Directory' | close
