American Diabetes Month

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where your body cannot make enough insulin or cannot use it properly. It can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in America.  There are several types of Diabetes, such as, Prediabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes.  Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is when the body cannot produce insulin and is usually diagnosed in children and teens. Type 2 diabetes is when your body does not use insulin properly.  Gestational diabetes is when a pregnant women who did not have diabetes before pregancy now has high blood glucose levels.

What are Diabetes Symptoms?

Symptoms of diabetes  include urinating frequently, feeling very hungry or thirsty, blurry vision, severe fatigue, weight loss, numbness or tingling in feel or hands, or cuts and bruises that  are slow to mend.

How is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diabetes can be diagnosed at your doctor’s office either by an A1C test, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test, or Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). An A1C test measures your blood glucose over the past 2-3 months. If your blood glucose is over 6.5% you have diabetes. FPG test checks your fasting (before food or fluid intake) blood glucose levels. You cannot eat or drink 8 hours before the test. If your blood glucose is greater than 200 mg/dl you have diabetes. OGTT checks your blood glucose 2 hours after you drink a special drink. If your blood glucose is greater than 200 mg/dl you have diabetes.

How is Diabetes Treated?

Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented making changes in your lifestyle. Changing your lifestyle means eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a normal weight. Adults should get 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week. Even if you do not lose enough weight to be at your ideal weight, losing 15 pounds will help prevent against diabetes. If you would like to know if you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes visit:

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/

Diabetes can be treated several ways. Lifestyle changes, medication, blood glucose monitoring, and managing your ABCs (A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol) are all ways to treat your diabetes. To know the best treatment plan for you visit your primary care physician.

**It is best to see your primary care physician regularly in order to prevent and treat your Diabetes! Please call 773-702-0660 to make an appointment at Friend Family Health Center.**