November is National Diabetes Month
Here it comes, right in time for the holidays and all the challenges they bring for those trying to improve their eating habits… it’s National Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a common but generally manageable chronic disease state that affects how the body turns food into energy. It occurs when a person’s blood sugar (glucose) is too high, which can cause several health issues including kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage or heart disease.
There are different types of diabetes that determine how a person’s diabetes is caused and could determine course of treatment or management. Some of the main types include:
Type 1 diabetes: Thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction, type 1 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce insulin (the hormone that the body uses to get glucose from the bloodstream to the cells of the body for energy). Approximately 5-10 percent of people who have diabetes have type 1. Currently, type 1 diabetes is not preventable and if you have it you will need to take insulin every day.
Type 2 diabetes: The most common type of diabetes, occurs when your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, being active and eating healthy food.
Gestational diabetes: this type of diabetes occurs when someone who has never had diabetes, develops the condition during pregnancy and typically goes away once the baby is born. However, gestational diabetes can increase the baby’s risk of health problems and both the birthing parent and the baby’s risks of health problems.
Prediabetes: this condition refers to people whose blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. In the U.S., 88 million adults, more than one in three, have prediabetes. In addition, 84 percent don’t know they have it. Fortunately, while prediabetes does put people at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes or other health conditions, with healthy lifestyle behaviors it can be reversed.
Depending on the type of diabetes, there are certain risk factors and populations who may be more at-risk for diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes risk factors are not as clear as type 2 or prediabetes, but some of the known risk factors are:
Age – Type 1 diabetes is more likely to occur in children, teenagers or young adults
Family history
In the U.S. people, those who are white are more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes than African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Those at high risk for Type 2 diabetes include:
Being 45 years or older
Being overweight
Physically active less than 3 times a week
Have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
Have had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds
Having African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian or Alaska Native heritage (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
Have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Those at risk for gestational diabetes include:
Being overweight
More than 25 years old
Have had gestational diabetes previously
Have a hormone disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
Have given birth to baby weighing more than nine pounds
Having African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander heritage
Finally, you are at higher risk for prediabetes if you:
Are overweight
Are physically active less than three times a week
Have ever had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds
Have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
Are 45 years or older
Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian or Alaskan Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
There is no cure for diabetes, but there are ways to manage the condition whether it be through a medication regimen or adopting healthy habits such as eating healthy foods and staying active.
Some types of diabetes, including prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, can be prevented, or reversed. Some, like Type 1, cannot be prevented – only managed.
You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with proven lifestyle changes such as getting regular physical activity and losing weight if you are overweight.
Before getting pregnant, you may be able to prevent gestational diabetes by losing weight if you are overweight, getting more regular physical exercise and eating healthier.
Some simple and effective tips for healthy eating and developing a more active lifestyle include:
Setting fitness goals for healthier movement
Setting weight loss goals
Make a diet plan that is based on healthy eating, including choosing foods like fruits, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables and lean protein and minimizing foods and drinks that have high trans-fat content, processed foods, sugary drinks and alcohol.
Get support from your friends and family, for example, work out with a friend to keep yourself accountable or simply share your successes with friends and family.
During your annual well check, your provider will assess you for the risk of diabetes, and provide guidance based on your situation. For more information, call your Oregon Medical Group clinic.