Posted by Penny on February 6, 2004, at 9:09:54
In reply to Re: Type II diabetes and health and diet fads » Racer, posted by Karen_kay on February 5, 2004, at 22:40:26
Type II diabetes is more common in folks who are obese, but this isn't always the case, and especially if it runs in your family (as it does in mine), you should be paying attention and periodically getting checked, if your doc thinks there's reason. Due to my weight problem and the fact that both my dad and my maternal grandmother are type II diabetics, plus I have two cousins who are type I diabetics, I am checked regularly for diabetes.
Type II diabetes used to be called 'adult-onset' diabetes, but is showing up in younger generations now due to rising levels of obesity in children and teens.
http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/jun2002/childhoodobesity.htmAnyway, as Racer said, the important thing is to get checked BY A PHYSICIAN if you suspect you are at risk for diabetes. If it runs in your family, you should definitely know what you can do to limit the possibility of your developing type 2 diabetes later in life. (as opposed to Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disorder, usually strikes children and teens, and there's nothing you can do to prevent it.)
As for whether you should see your regular doc or not - your pdoc is certainly qualified, as a physician, to order the diabetes diagnostic tests - fasting glucose levels and such. It just depends on whether it's something he would be willing to do - might be something he would be happy to screen you for, but I doubt he would be willing to manage it for you if you were diagnosed, as that's not his area of specialty. For that you would need to see your GP or an endocrinologist (a GP is usually the one to manage all but the most severe diabetes - usually type 1 - cases).
P
poster:Penny
thread:309841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040102/msgs/310112.html