Diabetes: What is it?

Diabetes Alert Day is a yearly American awareness holiday that falls on the fourth Tuesday of March. For the year 2024, it is observed on March 26. Unfortunately, this chronic health issue has been an ongoing issue, and despite the number of details we know about it, there is still no known cure available. Diabetes may shorten a person’s lifespan, or at least make day by day activities much more difficult. As such, it is important to learn about this disease and its associated symptoms, as well as preventative measures.

You very likely heard about diabetes from TV commercials, hospital pamphlets, or maybe the news. That should let you know how common this is issue is compared to other health conditions. But what is diabetes exactly? According to the CDC, diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. This is a chronic health condition, so that means if you have it, you are stuck with it for the rest of your life.

Diabetes is based on how your body deals with insulin, which is a hormone made by the pancreas. The body could be making little to no insulin, or perhaps the body is not using insulin properly. These deviations are where there are multiple types of diabetes classifications. Be aware of the different types of diabetes, as the treatment plans can drastically differ. There is no good in trying to generalize diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes is when the pancreatic cells get attacked by the body’s immune system, which are normally the body’s defenders. As it so happens, the cells that get attacked are those that are trying to make insulin for the body. These symptoms can appear suddenly, with little to no warning. Unfortunately, there is currently no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 are individuals that have to regularly take insulin, usually as a prescription. Missing too many days of this life saving drug may result in death.

Type 2 Diabetes is the more well-known version of diabetes. This occurs when your blood sugar, otherwise known as blood glucose, is too high. This can happen if you have insulin resistance, which is when your body is not properly using the insulin to absorb blood sugar for energy. Fortunately, unlike with Type 1, Type 2 can be prevented, or delayed based on your health. A simple 30 min walk per day can drastically reduce chances of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, avoiding sugary foods may help lower body weight, which in turn would also reduce the chance of type 2 diabetes. It is important to have a healthy lifestyle to reduce your chances of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes is another type. This one can happen during pregnancy. There is a chance during pregnancy, that the body does not make enough insulin, eventually leading to insulin resistance. This can potentially affect the offspring in a negative way, such as having low blood sugar, or increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life. Like with type 2, this type is controllable by lifestyle changes. Consult with a dietician if gestational diabetes becomes an issue during pregnancy, and they will be able to assist a proper meal plan that can reduce blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is an ongoing issue to watch out for. On this Diabetes Alert Day, be sure to learn about diabetes, its different types, and what to do to possibly prevent it. A healthy lifestyle can go a long way.

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