Diabetes is a disease that occurs when a person’s body can’t maintain its own blood sugar at normal levels. More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it is the country’s seventh leading cause of death. Yet, many people who have diabetes don’t even know it. Research by the American Diabetes Association reveals that more than 600,000 people in Alabama have diabetes. That’s more than 15 percent of our state’s population.

Before being diagnosed with diabetes, you may learn that you have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated but not as high as levels that indicate diabetes. According to the CDC, 84 million American adults, or one in three, have prediabetes—and 90 percent of them don’t know it.

While there is no cure for diabetes, it is a disease that can be managed through medication and lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise. The first step is knowing whether or not you have the disease. If you haven’t talked to your physician about diabetes, make an appointment for a check-up today. 

What is diabetes?

There are three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. All three revolve around challenges with insulin in the body.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. One of its jobs is to control blood sugar, or glucose, which comes from the things that you eat and drink. Glucose is distributed in the bloodstream throughout the body, and your cells use it as energy. When glucose levels go up—like after you’ve eaten—insulin is released by the pancreas to regulate it or help it get where it needs to go. When you hear the words “food gives you energy,” you can think about this process.

But when people have diabetes, those systems aren’t functioning properly. Type 1 diabetes is frequently diagnosed in children and adolescents and was once referred to as “juvenile diabetes.” It is considered an autoimmune disease because the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that create insulin. People who have type 1 diabetes rely on insulin therapy (injections) and other treatments to regulate their blood sugar. Genetics and exposure to certain viruses may increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is able to make insulin, but it either doesn’t make enough of the hormone or the body is resistant to it. This is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of all cases. While researchers aren’t sure why people develop type 2 diabetes, there are some factors that seem to contribute to it, including family history, weight, inactivity, age and race. Hispanics, African-Americans, American Indians and Asian-Americans are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, as are older adults. Some people with type 2 diabetes can manage the disease through diet and exercise, while others might need medication or insulin. 

The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This is a type of diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. In most cases, blood sugar returns to normal levels after birth. Gestational diabetes should be addressed quickly because it can impact the health of the baby. It can often be managed through diet and exercise. In some cases, medication or insulin is needed. 

What are some of the symptoms of diabetes?

Often, people don’t experience any early symptoms when they have diabetes, or the symptoms are so subtle they don’t realize they were signs until later on. Gestational diabetes, for example, often has no symptoms and is detected by a doctor.

People who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes may experience these symptoms:

  • Extreme thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Feelings of hunger, even though you’ve eaten
  • Fatigue
  • Cuts and bruises that seem to heal slowly
  • Blurred vision
  • Weight loss (type 1)
  • Numbness, tingling or pain in the hands or feet (type 2)

Who should be screened for diabetes and prediabetes?

There are several tests your doctor can do to determine whether you have diabetes. Anyone experiencing the above symptoms of diabetes should be screened. With gestational diabetes, a doctor may screen a pregnant woman after 24 weeks of gestation.

For prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends that people get screened at least every three years if you are/have one of the following, or annually if you are/have two or more of the following:

  • Older than 45
  • Cardiovascular disease or a family history of type 2 diabetes
  • Overweight or obese
  • Heritage that is Asian-American, African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander or other backgrounds considered to have a higher risk
  • High cholesterol
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Hypertension
  • Gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
  • Antipsychotic therapy for schizophrenia and/or severe bipolar disease
  • Chronic glucocorticoid exposure
  • Sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, chronic sleep deprivation night-shift work, along with glucose intolerance

What can diabetes lead to?

While diabetes can be managed with the help of your doctor, having elevated levels of blood sugar in your body could be dangerous and potentially impact all systems in your body. That, in turn, could lead to long-term health complications. Those include:

  • Skin conditions
  • Eye conditions (including glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy) and vision problems
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney disease
  • Foot damage
  • Gastroparesis (a stomach disorder)

What can I do if I have diabetes?

Learning that you have diabetes can be frightening. But, again, it’s important to know that you may be able to control the disease if you make some life changes. Diabetes management can come through diet, exercise, medication or insulin use. You should always talk with your doctor about changes you can make to improve your health, but here are some basic healthy steps to get started:

  • Stop smoking
  • Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
  • Visit your primary care physician regularly, and know your numbers (that means glucose, cholesterol, body mass index and blood pressure)
  • Make regular appointments with your optometrist and dentist to be sure your eyes, teeth and gums are all healthy
  • Exercise regularly. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (or a combination of the two) every week
  • Eat a healthy diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive to eat foods that are high in fiber and low in sodium, sugar and fat
  • Test your blood sugar regularly, and take the medication or medications you were prescribed
  • Check your feet for any cuts, blisters or sores. If you have any concerns, contact your doctor
  • Find an activity you enjoy that will help you manage stress
  • Ask for help. Let your friends and family know if you’re struggling and find a support group in your area to connect with others who have diabetes

More questions about diabetes? Visit our diabetes resource center to learn more.