What is diabetes?
Consider the facts
Symptoms of diabetes
Are you at risk?
Annual screenings for UPSers at risk

What is Diabetes?

The American Diabetes Association defines diabetes as a disease in which the body's pancreas does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into the energy needed for daily life.

The definition of obesity, in general, is a chronic condition defined as being an excess amount of body fat. A certain amount of body fat is necessary for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions.

Consider the facts:

Symptoms of diabetes
Below are some of the symptoms of diabetes. If you have any of these, please contact your physician. Remember—only a doctor can diagnose this disease

• Frequent Urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Unusual irritability
• Blurry vision

In some cases diabetes, can be prevented through proper exercise and nutrition. Click here to learn more on eating tips with the upcoming holiday season.

If you have any of these, please contact your physician.

Are you at risk?

The following are at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes

• People with family history of diabetes
• People who are overweight
• People who do not exercise regularly
• People with low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood pressure
• Certain racial or ethnic groups
• Women who had gestational diabetes when pregnant, or who had a baby over 9 pounds at birth
• People with impaired glucose tolerance or fasting glucose
• People over 45
  

Link to the American Diabetes Association and test to see if you are at risk for pre-diabetes or type 2 on the American Diabetes Association Website.

Consider these annual screenings
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Changes to the retina can begin before you notice a change in vision, but your opthalmalogist can detect those changes during an eye exam.

You should also consider an annual screening for diabetic nephropathy, a kidney disease. Early-stage diabetic nephropathy has no symptoms, making it even more important for those at risk to see their doctor for an annual screening.

Despite the fact that many UPS medical plans provide benefits for these health screenings, among all UPSers who have diabetes or risk factors for the disease and who were enrolled in a UPS-administered plan in 2009, only 20 percent had an annual eye exam, and only 36 percent had a screening for diabetic nephropathy.

If you're not sure whether your health plan covers these screenings, check your Summary Plan Description, or call your medical carrier's Member Services--their phone number is printed on the back of your medical ID card. To learn more about what you can do to protect yourself against diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, click the links below:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000494.htm

http://www.ndep.nih.gov