Q1. What is diabetes and who is affected?

A1. The American Diabetes Association defines diabetes as a disease in which the body's pancreas does not produce or properly use insulin. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. An estimated 18.2 million Americans have diabetes – that's 6.2 percent of the population.

Q2. I've heard there are different types of diabetes. What are the differences?

A2. Type-1 diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. Type-1 diabetes may account for 5 to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes may account for about 90 percent to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race or ethnicity. Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed in some women during pregnancy. Other specific types of diabetes result from specific genetic conditions (such as maturity-onset diabetes of youth), surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses.

Q3. What if I have diabetes and I don't know it? What are some symptoms?

A3. Only a doctor can diagnose diabetes, but here are some symptoms that may be present in people who have the disease: Frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, extreme hunger, sudden vision changes, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, feeling very tired much of the time, very dry skin, sores that are slow to heal, and more infections than usual. See your doctor right away if you are having any symptoms. Prompt treatment may help you avoid serious complications.

Q4. What are some complications of diabetes?

A4. Heart disease strikes people with diabetes twice as often as people without the disease. There is also a risk for blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease and amputation. People with diabetes can reduce their risk for complications if they are educated about their disease; learn and practice the skills to better control their blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels; and receive regular checkups from their health care team.

Q5. I have never liked to exercise and have never been athletic. Are there any fitness programs that work for people like me?

A5. It's important to choose activities you truly enjoy and to slip moderate activity into your daily routine. A successful fitness program starts with a simple plan. Don't over-commit to something that will be difficult to maintain. It's better to start with small, simple steps that you can build on, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking or biking instead of driving, whenever possible.

Q6. What can I do to keep from developing diabetes?

A6. Type-2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race or ethnicity. A recent study done by the American Diabetes Association, the Diabetes Prevention Program Study showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, but diet and exercise work better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5 to 10 percent reduction in body weight, produced a 58 percent reduction in diabetes.

Q7. What are condition (disease) management programs?

A7. Condition management programs are designed to help people who have chronic or serious illness lead healthier lives. To read more about the UPS Healthy connections — Informed Choices condition management programs click here.

Q8. How do I assess my risk factors?

A8. Take a Health Assessment — As part of your UPS-sponsored health plan benefits, UPSers and their spouses covered by the flexible benefits plan can take a health assessment that offers an in-depth assessment of your lifestyle and factors that impact your health status.

Sources: The American Diabetes Association website, 2005, www.diabetes.org; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, 2005, www.cdc.gov; Department of Health and Human Services website, 2004, www.hhs.gov; National Center for Health Statistics website, 2004, www.cdc.gov/nchs; MedicineNet, Inc., 2005, www.medicinenet.com