nderstanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which your body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. No matter what type of diabetes you have or where you are in your journey, living with diabetes is not easy. We've compiled information to help you understand diabetes and learn how to manage it. get started now.
Discuss the Types of Diabetes.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms, treatment, and complications associated with diabetes.
Symptoms
Recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetes before diagnosis.
Common symptoms of diabetes:
• abnormal thirst
• frequent urination
• Change in weight (increase or decrease)
• extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• blurred vision
• frequent or recurring infections
• wounds and sores that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• trouble getting or maintaining an erection
• diabetic ketoacidosis (dka)
Treatment
Diabetes is treated with insulin and healthy behaviors. You can manage diabetes by:
Taking insulin (and other medications, if prescribed by your doctor) as recommended
Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly using a home blood glucose meter
eating healthy meals and snacks
enjoying regular physical activity
healthy body weight goal
Manage your stress effectively
Complications
If diabetes is not well managed, it can lead to short-term and longterm health complications.
Diabetes can lead to a variety of complications that affect your body from head to toe, including stroke, blindness, amputations, and more. People with diabetes are also at risk for mental health
problems, such as anxiety or depression, which can result from the stress of managing their diabetes. This is often referred to as a diabetic crisis.
But don't give up, there are some things you can do. The following sections cover complications often associated with diabetes.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that is more common in people with diabetes than in the general population. People with celiac disease can't handle gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale.
Kidney disease (nephropathy)
Kidney disease – known as nephropathy – is common in people with diabetes. If the kidneys become damaged due to high blood sugar (sugar) levels and high blood pressure, they cannot filter blood properly and may fail. Kidney failure is a serious complication associated with diabetes.
Eye damage (diabetic retinopathy)
Many people with diabetes have some form of eye damage or "diabetic retinopathy." Diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision changes or blindness. With blood sugar control, regular eye exams, and prompt treatment, the risk or worsening of eye damage can be reduced.
Heart disease and stroke
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. People with diabetes may develop heart disease 15 years earlier than people without diabetes. The most common form of heart disease in diabetes is coronary artery disease.
High blood pressure
People with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease and/or experience a stroke at a younger age than people without diabetes. Along with diabetes, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) puts extra stress on your body. This can cause damage to your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes.
Mental health issues
Many people with diabetes experience distress, low mood, and disabling levels of anxiety. Mental health disorders can affect your ability to cope and care for your diabetes. Taking care of your mental health is as important as your physical health.
Nerve damage and amputation
Nerve damage or diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the longterm complications of diabetes. If left untreated, the damage caused by neuropathy can potentially lead to infection and amputation.
Prediabetes
Millions of Americans suffer from prediabetes. Prediabetes refers to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered diabetes.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms by which prediabetes can be diagnosed.
The symptoms of prediabetes are almost similar to the symptoms of diabetes. The most common signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
• abnormal thirst
• frequent urination
• Change in weight (increase or decrease)
• extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• blurred vision
• frequent or recurring infections
• wounds and sores that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• trouble getting or maintaining an erection
Treatment
Prediabetes is the precursor to diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which your body doesn't make enough insulin, or your body can't properly use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body control the sugar levels in your blood.
If your body can't use its insulin properly, glucose (sugar) accumulates in your blood instead of being used as energy. This extra sugar in your blood causes problems and can lead to serious health complications.
It is important to take a diagnosis of prediabetes seriously because some of the long-term complications associated with diabetes – such as heart disease – can begin during prediabetes.
Diabetes prevention
The good news is that more than half of people with prediabetes can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. Taking steps now to improve your lifestyle can make a big difference and lead to a healthier future.
If you've been diagnosed with prediabetes, reduce your risk of developing diabetes by:
• Healthy Diet
• Get regular exercise (start slowly and build up to 150 minutes per week)
• Weight loss (you may need to lose five to 10 percent of your total weight to make a big difference)
Complications
If prediabetes is not properly managed it can lead to diabetes and related complications.
• Diabetes-related complications
• eye damage
• heart disease and stroke
• high blood pressure
• kidney disease
• mental health issues
• nerve damage and amputation
