With diabetes diagnoses on the rise, here's what you need to know

The chances of someone you know being diagnosed with diabetes in their lifetime are high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in ten people will receive a diabetes diagnosis. An additional one in three people have prediabetes. As the number of people living with prediabetes and diabetes continues to rise, it is important to understand the signs, symptoms and risks.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t process the insulin efficiently.

Diabetes Education coordinators Aubrey Kough and James Florez

“All the food we eat is broken down into nutrients,” said James Florez, registered nurse and LMH Health Diabetes Education coordinator. “It is then converted into glucose (sugar) which is put into the bloodstream. The only way for it to be pulled back out of the bloodstream and converted into energy is when the body releases insulin.”

A person may receive one of the following diabetes diagnoses:

• Gestational diabetes: This only occurs in pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can cause a woman’s body to become resistant to insulin, and her pancreas may not be able to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Gestational diabetes lasts throughout pregnancy, but usually quickly resolves after the baby has been born. Those who have had gestational diabetes are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Prediabetes: During this stage, the body is still able to create and use insulin, though the body is starting to become more resistant to the insulin. While blood sugar levels are higher than normal, they are not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. People who have prediabetes may be able to prevent their diagnosis from progressing to type 2 diabetes or eliminate their prediabetes diagnosis through lifestyle changes.
• Type 1 diabetes: This is an autoimmune condition that eventually stops the body from creating any insulin. The primary treatment is medical intervention through blood sugar monitoring and insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes: This is the most common type of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, the body struggles to create enough insulin, which can progress to the point where it stops making insulin entirely. The body also responds poorly to insulin, called insulin resistance. Both of these things lead to consistently high blood sugars. Unlike prediabetes, type 2 diabetes is not reversible but can improve and be managed successfully with lifestyle changes and sometimes medications.

“Receiving a diabetes diagnosis of any stage does not have to affect your quality of life,” said Aubrey Kough, LMH Health registered dietitian nutritionist and Diabetes Education coordinator. “With the right help and lifestyle adjustments, you can continue to do what you love.”

Risk factors

While we can’t pinpoint the exact reason some people develop diabetes, there are factors that may increase your likelihood of developing the condition. You may be at higher risk if you:

• Are overweight or obese
• Are 45 years of age or older
• Are not physically active
• Have a family history of diabetes

A person’s understanding of nutrition and access to foods that are high in nutritional value, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, can also affect their risk of developing diabetes. According to Florez, foods low in nutrition create a deficit that builds over time. As life gets busier, people struggle to pay attention to the nutritional value of foods which, in turn, increases their risk of diabetes and other health concerns.

While nutrition plays a large part in preventing diabetes, it is even more effective when paired with physical activity. Physical activity allows your body’s cells to respond better and become more sensitive to insulin and also helps your body to balance its blood sugar levels. The CDC found that combining 30 minutes of daily walking with a healthy diet can significantly lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diagnosing diabetes

When it comes to diabetes, knowing what to look for can be hard. Symptoms vary from person to person and in some cases, they may be very mild or not even show. Common symptoms include:

• Blurry vision
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• High blood pressure
• High fasting sugar (glucose) levels
• Increased thirst or hunger
• Patches of dark skin
• Skin tags
• Slow to heal cuts and bruises
• Unintentional weight loss

“Because it can be hard to know what to look for, it is always important to routinely screen for diabetes,” said Kough.

You can be screened for diabetes through local health fairs and at some pharmacies, but the best screening available is an annual physical. Your primary care provider will use lab work to check your blood sugar levels and your body’s resistance to insulin. They will also be able to identify if you are at higher risk based on your weight, family history and any medications which could contribute to insulin resistance.

“Working closely with your primary care provider can help catch a diabetes diagnosis early and lead to better outcomes in the long term,” said Florez.

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to chronic complications. Individuals living with untreated diabetes are at risk of:

• Gum disease
• Heart attack
• Kidney problems
• Loss of eyesight
• Nerve damage
• Skin infections
• Stroke

“Diabetes affects how your blood and blood vessels work, and how your body responds is very individualized,” said Florez. “In a lot of cases, you feel fine until you don’t. You may not think it is a big deal, but even when you don’t feel it, the damage is still occurring.”

Living with a diabetes diagnosis

Diabetes can be a very manageable condition. Blood sugar monitoring, medication, diet and exercise all work hand-in-hand to ensure you can maintain your quality of life.

“The good news is that every year our understanding of diabetes expands and we are able to provide different options for treatment,” said Kough. “Our hope is to give you helpful tools and resources to make it so you are not solely reliant on medications and are able to continue doing what you love.”

Blood sugar monitoring allows you to see the progress you are making and how different things, such as food, exercise or medications affect your blood sugar. It also allows you and your care team to come up with a personalized plan to manage your condition.

“Everyone’s blood sugar responds differently, so checking it lets you learn more about how your body works,” said Kough.

Medications such as pills, weekly injections, or insulin administered through a pen or a pump are available to help manage symptoms. While they do provide relief, they work best when paired with lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.

“It doesn’t always need to be major changes in lifestyle,” Kough said. “They can be small, such as switching to sugar-free drinks. You are more likely to stick to small changes.”

Success can be found in the small changes and by setting your home and work environments up to have things that are easy and readily accessible. One of the things that Kough stressed is to keep it simple and that it is okay to take shortcuts. If you are more likely to cook and eat frozen vegetables or precut fruit, go for it! They contain the same nutritional value. The key is to take everything in moderation. Sticking to a lifestyle change will be harder if you are feeling restricted and deprived.

“Your changes are going to have to be realistic to your current lifestyle,” Kough explained. “You’ve got to be able to stick to it for the rest of your life.”

The LMH Health Diabetes Education Center is a great resource for those diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes and their support team. The team offers individual appointments, four-week-long classes, a free monthly support group and free quarterly prediabetes classes. They also provide advice about nutrition and meal planning, psychosocial effects of diabetes, self-management, preventing complications, insulin and insulin pump options, as well as checking blood sugars with a glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

“It’s all very individualized and that’s why it is important to see someone to help meet your specific needs,” Florez said. “Do not be anxious or scared of a new diagnosis. We are here for you and can help give you the tools and support to manage your diabetes.”