According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38.4 million people of all ages in the U.S. had diabetes in 2021, which is 11.6% of the U.S. population. Some people have diabetes but are unaware that they have it.
Some forms of diabetes are not preventable, but in some cases, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
What Is Diabetes?
When you have diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, sometimes none at all, or in some cases, your body isn’t affected by insulin normally. This insulin deficiency causes glucose to accumulate in your bloodstream, which leads to high blood sugar levels, called hyperglycemia. This can cause serious health issues over time, including heart disease, nerve damage, and eye problems.
Diabetes comes in several forms, but the two most common are Diabetes Type 1 and 2.
Causes of Diabetes
The excess glucose in the bloodstream that leads to diabetes has several different causes depending on the type of diabetes.
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance means that cells in your liver, fat, and muscles don’t react to insulin properly. This is most often what leads to Type 2 diabetes, and can be caused by obesity, an unhealthy diet, low levels of physical activity, genetics, hormonal imbalances, or certain medications.
Autoimmune Disease
When you have an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This is often the cause of Type 1 diabetes.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances, usually those that occur during pregnancy, cause the placenta to release hormones that lead to insulin resistance. If the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to make up for the insulin resistance, gestational diabetes occurs.
Pancreatic Damage
Injury, surgery, or certain medical conditions that cause damage to the pancreas can impact insulin production, causing diabetes.
Genetic Mutations
Specific genetic mutations can cause a few different types of diabetes.
Preventing Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is somewhat preventable with certain lifestyle adjustments.
Get to and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can reduce your risk by getting to a maintaining a healthy weight based on your height, age, gender, and body type.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy, balanced diet can help to prevent type 2 diabetes. Recommendations include:
- Plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains and fiber
- Limited red meat, more lean proteins
- Healthy fats from foods like fish and olive oil
- Limited sugar
- No processed foods
Exercise
Regular exercise can help to boost your sensitivity to insulin and regulate blood sugar levels. It also will help you to manage your weight. Combine aerobic exercise and strength training to get the best results.
Signs of Diabetes
It’s important to know the signs of diabetes. Many early symptoms of diabetes are subtle. These include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Fatigue or weakness
- Tingling or numbness, particularly in your feet
- Blurred vision
- Itchiness
- Slow healing wounds or skin infections
- Moodiness caused by unstable blood sugar
- Urinary tract infections and yeast infections
If you have these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately. They can run a series of blood tests to check your blood sugar and make a formal diabetes diagnosis.
Potential Complications of Diabetes
Complications of diabetes can be acute requiring immediate medical attention, or you may develop long-term complications.
Acute complications include:
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state: Blood sugar levels can become extremely high leading to dehydration and confusion. This usually occurs with Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA): DKA occurs when the body doesn’t have enough insulin, so glucose can’t be used for energy. Fat breaks down instead, but this eventually leads to the release of ketones. This may cause acidic blood and lead to labored breathing, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. This generally occurs with Type 1 diabetes.
Hypoglycemia (severely low blood sugar): When the blood sugar drops to an extremely low level, it can cause blurred vision or double vision, clumsiness, disorientation, and seizures. Patients who inject insulin are at the highest risk of hypoglycemia.
When damage to the body occurs from diabetes over the long term, it can lead to other complications including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Atherosclerosis
- Stroke
- Nerve damage
- Nephropathy which can lead to kidney failure
- Foot conditions
- Retinopathy which can cause blindness
- Amputations
- Skin infections
- Gastroparesis
- Hearing loss
- Gum disease
- Sexual dysfunction
In Closing
Diabetes is a serious illness that can cause serious complications, but you can reduce your risk of diabetes and of complications by managing your weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
At Health Service Alliance, we can provide prevention resources, diabetes screening, and treatment if necessary. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, and accessible care regardless of your ability to pay. Reach out today to learn more.
