Learn About Diabetes

What’s Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that develops when the body's supply of insulin is insufficient or the pancreas is unable to use it properly. Insulin aids in the body's use of glucose for energy production. Diabetes is not just one condition; it is a disease that can cause complications that include heart disease, kidney disease, loss of eyesight, loss of hearing, and other serious health problems. In America, 1 in 10 persons have diabetes, and 1 in 5 do not have a diagnosis, according to the CDC. Minority populations like African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, American Indians, and many more are severely affected by diabetes. The World Health Organization believes that diabetes caused more than 1.5 million deaths in 2019. Under the age of 70, over 48% of the deaths occur. The rate of diabetes has skyrocketed as the overweight and obese portion of the American population has continued to increase. With many ongoing research on diabetes we still have yet found a cure. The most productive way to help your health is eating healthy, exercising and managing your blood sugar levels frequently.

Type 1 Diabetes

When you have type 1 diabetes, your body produces little or no insulin. Type 1 can strike anyone at any age, but it is most prevalent in children and young people. Some of the signs may include intense thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, hunger, fatigue, and a variety of other minor issues. If you don't make healthy choices and alter your lifestyle at an early age, having diabetes could become vitally important later in life.

Type 2 Diabetes

When your body doesn't use the insulin it receives as well as it should, you have type 2 diabetes. Although studies indicate that it is progressing more rapidly in young ones, this kind of diabetes is more common in people over the age of 45. Contrary to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can have severe symptoms that go undiagnosed for years. The most typical type 2 diabetes symptoms are thirst, exhaustion, loss of weight, tingling in the hands or feet, infections, sores, and other concerns. Although type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, you can see significant improvements with a balanced diet and way of life.

Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes during pregnancy might lead to major complications. Most often, gestational diabetes affects pregnant women at the end of their pregnancy. Nevertheless, some women experience insulin resistance before they become pregnant. This indicates that gestational diabetes would likely develop in women later in the course of their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects 2–10% of pregnant women in the United States, according to the CDC. If you had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, it is said that your blood sugar levels would gradually return to normal after the birth of your child. Although there is a very high likelihood that you may get type 2 diabetes in the future. Although there are no symptoms of diabetes, it is still important to have a prenatal test. This could lead to issues for both your baby's delivery and you. For instance, your child might be born prematurely, be extremely big, or later experience type 2 diabetes. To keep you and your baby safe, it is best to regularly monitor your blood sugar levels and maintain a nutritious diet.

How to manage your blood sugar?

It's crucial to learn how to control your blood sugar levels if you want to prevent serious problems like heart disease. You can monitor your blood sugar levels by using a blood sugar or glucometer. A blood sugar meter measures the level of sugar in a tiny amount of blood, typically from the tip of your finger. A tiny monitor that is usually inserted under the skin on the abdomen or arm is how a CGM functions. The sensor detects your blood glucose level between cells. You can adapt to your new lives more easily if you know when to monitor your blood sugar levels. When you first wake up, before a meal, after a meal, and before going to bed are typical times to check your blood sugar levels.