Diabetes Basics

Beginner’s Guide to Diabetes

When you eat, your body turns food into a type of sugar called glucose. Glucose is your body’s primary fuel source. A small organ called the pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which acts like a key. This key helps unlock your body’s cells, allowing glucose to enter and be used for energy.

With diabetes, this process doesn’t work as it should. This might happen because:

• Your body makes an insufficient amount of insulin.
• It does not make insulin at all.
• It does not release insulin properly.
• Your cells stop responding to the insulin that is there.

When the process doesn’t work properly, blood glucose builds up in your bloodstream. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to health problems and a greater risk of developing diabetes, but learning to manage it is a way to take better care of yourself.

Older adults and those with an ethnic background, such as African American, Hispanic, Latino American, and Native American, have a higher risk of diabetes. While you can’t change things like your age or family history, you can make choices that help you stay well and reduce your risk of diabetes later in life.

Before a Diabetes Diagnosis: Understanding Prediabetes

Before a person is diagnosed with diabetes, they may have a condition called prediabetes. This means their blood sugar levels are higher than what is considered normal, but not high enough yet to be called diabetes. This can be a crucial time to make changes. Making simple adjustments to your daily life can help bring those numbers down to a healthy range, reverse prediabetes and might prevent diabetes from developing at all.

Most Common Types of Diabetes

The two most common types of Diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2. Another type, called gestational diabetes, can develop during pregnancy.

• Type 1 Diabetes: The body’s immune system stops the pancreas from making insulin. It is not related to lifestyle and often appears in younger people. It is sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes because of this.
• Type 2 Diabetes: The most common kind. It happens when your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it well. It often develops over time and can be influenced by lifestyle and other factors, such as lack of physical activity and movement, hormonal imbalances, diet, obesity, genetics, and certain medications. It is recommended that anyone over 35 years of age be screened for Type 2 diabetes every three years. All it takes is a simple blood test.
• Gestational Diabetes: While pregnant, you may develop this condition without even knowing it. It happens if your pancreas cannot overcome the insulin resistance caused by the placenta releasing hormones. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery, but it can affect the baby’s health and increase the mother’s risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Tips for Taking Charge of Your Health

There are many actions you can take to decrease your risk of getting diabetes. If you currently have diabetes, take control by practicing a healthy lifestyle.

Movement Matters

Being active is a helpful way to manage your health. Even a little bit of movement can make a difference. Starting with just five minutes of movement each day, such as a short walk or a few stretches, can help your body use insulin more effectively. Regular activity also supports a healthy weight, which can help lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Know Your Numbers

Understanding your health numbers can be a valuable tool for staying in a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about:

• Your Blood Pressure. It’s a good idea to have your pressure checked regularly, every three to six months. A healthy goal is often considered less than 140/90 mmHg or below. High blood pressure readings are one of the most significant diabetes risk factors and can also lead to heart disease.
• Checking Your Eyes. High blood sugar levels can affect your vision, so a comprehensive annual eye exam can help check on your eye health. Diabetes risk factors for glaucoma or other diabetes related eye issues need to be ruled out.
• Your Kidney Health. Your doctor may suggest yearly blood and urine tests to check for any changes in your kidney health. Consistently high blood glucose levels can result in kidney failure.

Stop Smoking

Smoking increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause inflammation throughout the body by harming your body’s cells. This can make your insulin less effective. When the smoke chemicals meet oxygen in your body, it can cause cell damage, called oxidative stress, which can increase your risk of developing diabetes.

Smoking also creates a higher risk of belly fat, which can raise your risk of diabetes, even if you are not overweight.

Signs of High Blood Sugar

Signs of high blood sugar (or high blood glucose) might include:

• Increased thirst
• Feeling sluggish or fatiguing easily
• Frequently urinating
• Losing weight without a known cause
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent bacterial and fungal infections, or vaginal yeast infections
• Feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands, fingers, feet, or toes

It’s important to talk to your health care provider about these symptoms. They may suggest testing to check your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar stays high, it could lead to Type 2 diabetes.

Signs of Low Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar levels drop (low blood glucose), you may feel some of these symptoms:

• Shakiness
• Feeling unsteady
• Sweating (cold sweats are common)
• Quickened heartbeat
• Hunger
• Headache
• Blurred or double vision
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Brain fog, confusion, or difficulty concentrating
• Changes in mood
• Weakness or tiredness/fatigue

Constantly having low blood glucose levels can be caused by diseases of the liver, kidneys, or pancreas; metabolic issues, medication, and/or alcohol use.

Again, talk to your health care provider when you are experiencing these symptoms more often. There are many reasons why you may have any of these signs, but finding the cause can help you take action to resolve the symptoms.

Final thoughts for you to take away…

What is diabetes? We hope that you now understand the basics and ways to help avoid it. Preventing diabetes often means making healthy lifestyle changes. This can include losing weight if needed, eating a balanced diet with carb counting and meal planning, getting regular exercise, and keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range. With the right medical care, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity, it is very possible to live a long and healthy life.