Diabetes Resources
What is Diabetes?
According to the National institute of Health, diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood sugar is too high. There are two main types of diabetes, Type I and Type II diabetes.
Type I diabetes is less common than Type II and is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Type I diabetes is when your body does not produce insulin and you must take insulin every day in order to live. For more information on Type I diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association
Type II is the most common kind of diabetes, can arise at any age, and is most typical in middle aged to older adults. With Type II diabetes, your body is not able to make or use insulin well.
Type II Diabetes
Causes
The primary causes for Type II are lifestyle choices such as inactivity, unhealthy diet, and being overweight/obese. Heredity can also play a part. These factors can cause insulin resistance, which is when cells of the body do not respond properly to insulin. This can lead to Type II diabetes.
Risk Factors
Some factors that may put you at higher risk for developing Type II diabetes include:
- Overweight/obesity
- Older than age 45
- Family history of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Have a history of gestational diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Are African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
Retrieved from the National Institute of Health
Prevention and Treatment
If you find that you are at a higher risk for developing Type II diabetes the best way to decrease the chance of diagnosis is through weight loss, increasing physical activity, and eating healthier foods.
There is no cure for diabetes, however, there are ways to manage and treat it. These include:
- Talking with your doctor to set up a health care team
- Including physical activity daily
- Following a diabetes specific meal plan
- Stopping smoking
- Working with your health care team to monitor your A1c levels, blood pressure, blood glucose levels and cholesterol
- Medical Interventions such as medication