Diabetes Awareness Month: Let’s get the facts straight
About one in 10 people in the United States have diabetes, yet many are unaware or uninformed about what diabetes is, how to know if they have diabetes, and what someone with diabetes can and cannot do.
Jen Ropp, MS, RD, CDE, was a registered dietitian nutritionist at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic specializing in diabetes and endocrinology (the study of glands and hormones). Here, Ropp provides an overview of what you need to know about diabetes.
What are the most common types of diabetes?
The most common diabetes types, and their impact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:
- Type 1 diabetes: A rare autoimmune disease, Type 1 diabetes affects 1.6 million Americans.
- Type 2 diabetes: Just over one in 10 Americans have Type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes: Between 2-10 percent of pregnant patients in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes.
- Prediabetes: One in three Americans have prediabetes, a significant risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.
There are other less common types of diabetes, and in recent years a few more have been identified.
“There are lab tests that your doctor can give you to determine what type of diabetes you have,” says Ropp. “The type of diabetes you have determines how your medical team treats your diabetes.”
Is diabetes preventable?
Type 1 diabetes is not preventable; it is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, the hormone that controls sugar levels in your blood. Someone with Type 1 diabetes has to take insulin in order to live.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body either does not produce enough insulin or fails to properly use the insulin it makes. This condition is mostly preventable, though a person’s ethnicity and genes may also influence their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This is why even if someone does not eat healthily, does not exercise or has a higher body weight, they may not go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. It is important to foster healthy habits and maintain a healthy body weight to avoid lifestyle-driven diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
“We are still trying to figure out why it seems easier for some people to maintain a healthy body weight than others,” says Ropp. “But it is known that body mass index (BMI) is not the only way to know if someone’s weight is healthy for their body. Eating just mostly what you need and exercising or being active as much as you can helps prevent lifestyle-driven diseases like Type 2 diabetes.”
Gestational diabetes happens only during pregnancy. Having gestational diabetes puts a person at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is also important to maintain healthy weight and lifestyle habits post-pregnancy — even if you did not have diabetes before you were pregnant.
If your medical provider has diagnosed you with prediabetes, or impaired fasting glucose, this means your blood sugar is higher than normal yet not high enough to be considered diabetes yet. You can help prevent the progression of this condition to Type 2 diabetes through healthy weight management and lifestyle choices.
How do you know if you have diabetes?
“If you have Type 2 diabetes, often there are no symptoms,” says Ropp.
Therefore, it is important to schedule preventive health care visits with your provider on a regular basis, and these visits should include screening for diabetes.
“The most common symptoms we hear when we see someone at our clinic with newly diagnosed diabetes are fatigue, increased hunger, poor wound healing or immune system function,” says Ropp. “Other symptoms are blurred vision, increased thirst and urination and memory loss or brain fog. Every part of our body is affected by high blood sugar. The most common symptom we hear though is ‘Nothing. I didn’t even know I had diabetes until my doctor told me.’”
What is a diabetes educator?
Certified diabetes educators (also known as diabetes care and education specialists) are health care providers who help patients better manage diabetes. With so much information about diabetes available on the internet, it can be difficult to find trustworthy, relevant sources. A certified diabetes educator can help tailor information to your specific needs and help you continue along your health journey safely and effectively.
Diabetes: Myth versus fact
Myth: If you have someone in your family with diabetes, that means you can’t do anything to avoid getting it too.
Fact: This is not true, and it’s why there is more focus now on diabetes prevention, testing and lifestyle interventions.
Myth: Once you have Type 2 diabetes, you must take insulin. If you are told you need insulin, it is your fault; insulin is a “death sentence.”
Fact: Insulin is not something to fear; it is a hormone your pancreas makes naturally. Sometimes your body may not make enough insulin or the insulin it makes cannot keep blood sugar levels in check. As we age, we make less of our own insulin, and sometimes diabetes speeds up this process. As a result, people with Type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin in addition to or in place of other diabetes medications, even if they follow all the lifestyle recommendations their health care team has given them. Insulin is still the most powerful medication we have for lowering blood sugar levels that are too high.
Myth: If I take medication for my diabetes, I can forget about it.
Fact: Lifestyle choices are a very important part of successful diabetes management. Following healthy lifestyle recommendations and taking medications as prescribed can help you avoid serious diabetes-related health complications. In addition to being active and maintaining a healthy weight, those recommendations include finding ways to relieve stress, getting regular checkups and moderating alcohol intake.
Myth: If I have diabetes, I can’t have any foods I like.
Fact: The saying “everything in moderation” may be something you have heard time and time again. It also applies to food when it comes to diabetes. There are no good or bad foods, but some foods are better for blood sugar regulation than others. It is helpful to keep most of your food choices healthy, and then occasionally have treats here and there. Portioning matters, especially when it comes to the carbohydrates (sugars, starches and fiber) in your diet, even the healthier ones.
What now?
If you’re concerned about your health or wondering if you have diabetes, contact your doctor or other health care provider. While diabetes-related information abounds both online and in print, your provider will be able to diagnose and treat you specifically.
