National Diabetes Month: Focus on steps to prevent Type 2 complications

Mark A. Mahoney
·4 min read

More than 1 in 3 adults in the United States have prediabetes — and many of them don’t know it. National Diabetes Month is a time to raise awareness about diabetes as an important public health issue and encourage people to take charge of their health.

This year, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is focused on taking action to prevent diabetes-related health problems.

Recent advances in diabetes care technology means patients now have more options than ever.
Recent advances in diabetes care technology means patients now have more options than ever.

Overview of prediabetes and diabetes

When you have prediabetes, the glucose levels in your blood are higher than normal — but not high enough to mean you have type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems, like heart disease and stroke.

This homemade Veggie Lo Mein takes less than 15 minutes to cook and makes great leftovers.
This homemade Veggie Lo Mein takes less than 15 minutes to cook and makes great leftovers.

The good news about prediabetes is that healthy life changes, like reaching and staying at a healthy weight, staying active, eating healthy and quitting smoking can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Additional detailed information on prediabetes including access to a risk test can be found atPrediabetes - Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes | CDC.

Diabetes is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States and type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. You're more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you're overweight or obese, don't get enough physical activity or have prediabetes.

Diabetes also increases the risk of serious health problems like:• Heart Disease• Stroke• Blindness• Nerve damage, which can lead to amputation (surgical removal) of a toe, foot, or leg• Kidney failure

Having diabetes means the glucose (sugar) levels in your blood are too high. Your body depends on glucose for energy. When you eat, most of the food turns into glucose. Your blood carries the glucose to other parts of your body.

When you have diabetes, your body has trouble turning glucose into energy. Instead of being used by your body, glucose builds up in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can damage almost every part of your body.

Other types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (long-term) condition that seems to be caused by a problem with the immune system (the system in your body that fights infection). Right now, there’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults.

Even after a lot of research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. Treatment is directed toward managing the amount of sugar in the blood using insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that some people develop during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of health problems for you and your baby. For example, gestational diabetes can make it more likely that you or your baby will develop type 2 diabetes, later in life.

Staying at a healthy weight, staying active, eating healthy and quitting smoking can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Staying at a healthy weight, staying active, eating healthy and quitting smoking can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Many things can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes. For example, you may be at risk if you:

• Have prediabetes• Are older than 45 years• Are overweight or obese• Have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes• Are African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander• Have high blood pressure or high LDL ("bad") cholesterol• Are physically active less than 3 times a week

More details on additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes are available at:Diabetes Risk Factors | CDC

Anna Jones prepared an open-faced roasted vegetable sandwich with two bean hummus to demonstrate a healthy meal to help prevent stroke.
Anna Jones prepared an open-faced roasted vegetable sandwich with two bean hummus to demonstrate a healthy meal to help prevent stroke.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop over several years. Many people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms for a long time without noticing them. Some people don't notice any symptoms for a long time. Some people may never notice any symptoms.

Some of the symptoms of diabetes include:• Being very thirsty or hungry• Feeling more tired than usual• Urinating more than usual• Losing weight without trying• Having cuts or bruises that are slow to heal• Having blurry vision• Feeling numb or tingly in your hands or feet

Because symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be hard to spot, it’s important to talk with you’re a qualified health professional about your risk for type 2 diabetes. If you have risk factors or notice any symptoms, consult a qualified health professional about getting tested.

Thanks to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for the content provided.

Healthy life changes, like reaching and staying at a healthy weight, staying active, eating healthy and quitting smoking can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Healthy life changes, like reaching and staying at a healthy weight, staying active, eating healthy and quitting smoking can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Additional resources

Additional resources on eating healthier and aiming for a healthier weight are accessible at:

health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/diabetes/eat-healthy

health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/diabetes/aim-healthy-weight

A resource on managing and thriving with diabetes is available through the American Diabetes Association (ADA) at diabetes.org/health-wellness

Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years and completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Focus on prevention during National Diabetes Month