Diabetes 101

Pre diabetes. Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistant. Glucose addictions? It’s hard to keep up with everything these days. How about some Diabetes 101 – a summarized crash course with the important basics…

Did you know that diabetes is now considered an epidemic? Around 10% of the U.S. population has some form of the disease, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 people will be affected by the disease in a few decades. 1 in 3! That means you or one of your family members will be dealing with DIABETES. If those numbers aren’t alarming enough, it’s also the seventh leading cause of death.

So, what is diabetes? A disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.

What is Insulin? Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

The cells in your body need sugar for energy. However, sugar cannot go into most of your cells directly. After you eat food and your blood sugar level rises, cells in your pancreas (known as beta cells) are signaled to release insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin then attaches to and signals cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. Insulin is often described as a “key,” which unlocks the cell to allow sugar to enter the cell and be used for energy.

Wait, I have a pancreas?! What is that? Yep. You have a large gland behind your stomach that secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum. The gland is your pancreas! The islets of Langerhans, which secrete into the blood the hormones insulin and glucagon are embedded in the pancreas.

Are there different types? Yes, there are officially three types of diabetes (details below). Four types if you count “prediabetes”. In 2015, 84 million Americans 18+ had prediabetes.

“Type 1”: A chronic condition usually diagnosed in children or young adults in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin and insulin injections are needed daily to balance the glucose consumed.

“Type 2”: A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose) – the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it resists insulin.

and “Gestational Diabetes”: A (usually) temporary form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women. Those who develop gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Treatment strategies include daily blood sugar monitoring, a healthy diet, exercise, and monitoring the baby. If blood sugar is too high, medication is needed.

What are the symptoms of the disease? Hunger and fatigue, frequent peeing, excessive thirst, dry mouth, itchy skin, blurred vision, slow-healing sores or cuts, pain or numbness in your feet or legs, unexplained weight loss.

Is there a cure? Or what treatments are available? There is no cure for diabetes, but thankfully there are lots of treatment options. Diet and exercise are high on the list. Insulin, which only works by injection, is available for all type 1’s and some severe type 2 patients. Insulin pumps offer fewer needles and on the go dial-up insulin. Pills and other medications are also available sometimes to supplement insulin. At home blood glucose test kits and even some amazing continuous glucose monitors that sync via bluetooth with a phone app or your apple watch are some of the best methods to help control glucose.

What happens if diabetics don’t get treatment? They could experience hyperglycemia (excessive glucose in the blood), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), ketoacidosis (a serious diabetes complication where the body produces excess blood acids called ketones), or even diabetic coma. Without lifestyle changes and regular blood sugar control, diabetics may experience one or some of these complications: