What is Diabetes and How Can We Defend Our Lives?
About 1 in 10 people in the U.S. have diabetes, yet about 1 in 5 of those with the disease don’t know they have it. [1]
Over 1 in 3 people have prediabetes, yet over 8 in 10 of those people don’t know they have it. [1]
Diabetes is a global epidemic that can lead to heart disease, blindness and more. This American Diabetes Month, protect your health and quality of life by understanding the condition and what you can do.[1]
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-lasting disease where too much blood sugar ends up in the bloodstream. The body relies on a hormone called insulin to control how much blood sugar is in the bloodstream. Diabetes occurs when the body can’t make or use insulin. [1]
What are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes
With type 1 diabetes, the body stops making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1. It’s often diagnosed in childhood. [1]
Type 2 Diabetes
With type 2 diabetes, the body can’t use insulin to keep blood sugar at normal levels. Some people with type 2 diabetes manage it with diet and exercise, others take medications or insulin. 90-95% of diabetes is type 2. It develops over time and can be diagnosed in both young people and adults. [2]
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant woman and usually goes away later. It can increase the future risk of type 2 diabetes in both the mother and the child. [1]
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. While there’s no cure for other forms of diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed by making healthy lifestyle changes. [1]
More people have diabetes today than ever before. Whether you have type 1, type 2, prediabetes, or even if you believe you’re generally healthy — there are steps you can take to protect your health and your quality of life. [1]
Here are some ways to defend against diabetes:
Know your risk: Talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes. Your risk includes your family history, your weight, your physical activity levels, and more. [1] Head to the Higi Station to get your diabetes risk score.
Adopt healthy habits: A healthy lifestyle is key to preventing and managing diabetes. Staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco are all ways that can help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. [1]
Get tested: If you or your doctor suspect you’re at risk for diabetes, you may need a blood test. Tests used to diagnose diabetes measure your blood sugar levels in different ways. Some common tests doctors use to diagnose diabetes are an A1C test, a blood sugar test, and a glucose intolerance test. [1]
Monitor your health: if you have diabetes, it’s important to test your blood sugar levels regularly. Since diabetes is connected to heart disease, your blood pressure is also important to check and control. [1]
If you have some form of diabetes or are worried about developing it, you’re not alone. By building some knowledge and skills to prevent and manage this disease, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. This American Diabetes Month, support yourself and your loved ones by spreading awareness and adopting healthy habits that help you take control of your health.
1. What is Diabetes? – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. Type 2 Overview — American Diabetes Association