Diabetes: How much do you know?

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to increase awareness and spread education about one of the largest health epidemics - diabetes.

Did you know that diabetes is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States?

Or that 1 in 4 adults with diabetes don’t even know they have it?

Over 38 million adults and children in the U.S. have diabetes with more than a million new cases being recorded each year.

Diabetes - What is it?

Diabetes is a condition that arises when your blood glucose (“blood sugar”) levels are too high due to what is known as insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance means that even though your body is still making insulin, your system is no longer responding the way it should to its production.

If left uncontrolled, elevated blood sugar can lead to various health complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, vision problems, and kidney issues.

The cause(s) of diabetes depends on the type of diabetes. Factors that influence diabetes can range from genetic predisposition, family history, age, environmental factors, various metabolic disorders and an overabundance of caloric intake.

Diabetes- warning signs and symptoms

Unlike many diseases which have symptoms, diabetes often goes undetected given that only some people experience noticeable symptoms. Many people with diabetes experience no symptoms or such mild symptoms that they go unnoticed. This means that relying on symptoms to appear could lead to a delayed discovery of diabetes. 

Common symptoms

• Frequent urination

• Feeling very thirsty

• Frequent infections

• Areas of darkened skin (particularly around the neck and armpits)

• Small skin growths known as “skin tags”

• Fatigue or weakness

• Bruises/cuts that heal slowly

• Tingling, numbness or pain in the hands/feet

• Women may experience menstrual cycle changes (heavier/ longer bleeding), vaginal yeast infections, UTIs

Other possible symptoms include:

• Blurred vision

• Increased hunger

• Unexplained weight loss or gain

• Increased irritability, nervousness, or anxiety

• Itchy skin

• Brain fog

• High blood pressure

• Unhealthy blood fat profile

• Liver and kidney problems

Taking action 

Becoming aware of your body, taking notice of how you feel and the patterns in your life can help keep you healthy. Many people are unaware that their “normal” is in fact, not “normal,” and could actually be a sign or symptom that your metabolic health needs attention.

Examining your nutrition, level of exercise and body composition are all ways to better understand your body and your health. Getting annual bloodwork will keep you informed of your blood glucose levels, a key factor in diabetes.

If you or a loved one has concerns about diabetes, wants to learn more about the risk factors for this condition, or has discovered a symptom(s) that may need to be discussed with a medical provider, we encourage you to find a doctor here and check back on our site for more information about diabetes.