November is National Diabetes Month

By Whitney Venegoni, APRN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner

According to the CDC, 38 million Americans have diabetes, and most cases can be prevented.

In diabetes, your body does not respond normally to a hormone called insulin. Our bodies use insulin to control our blood sugars and allow our cells to take blood sugar into them to use for energy. High levels of sugar in the blood can cause damage to the body, which puts patients with uncontrolled diabetes at risk for heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss, nerve damage and slow wound healing which can lead to amputations.

Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include overweight, age 45 or older, having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes, being physically active less than three times per week, a history of diabetes during pregnancy, or if you are African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native.

Common Symptoms

Some common symptoms of diabetes include urinating often, feeling very thirsty or hungry, feeling very tired, blurry vision, slowly healing wounds, unintentional weight loss, numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands or feet.

Early on or before developing diabetes, you might not have any symptoms at all. We can test for diabetes if you are at risk by checking your blood sugar or a hemoglobin A1c. A hemoglobin a1c tells us an average of your blood sugars over the last three months. When this level is a little above normal, it is called prediabetes.

Being diagnosed with prediabetes does not mean you will develop type 2 diabetes, but it does mean you are more at risk for developing it in the future.

Preventing Diabetes

One of the best ways to prevent diabetes and prediabetes is to focus on small, sustainable healthy habits.

Eat healthier foods first during your meal. For example, eat your vegetables and proteins first, followed by the foods that are more carbohydrate dense. Try to include more foods with protein, fiber and color and minimize foods with added sugars like juice, soda and sweets. Ensure you drink plenty of water.

Exercise can help your body listen to insulin and regulate your blood sugars better. The recommended amount of physical activity is 150 minutes per week. If you are not exercising, choose an activity you enjoy like walking, dancing, or swimming. Start with 10 minutes a few times per week. You can dance for a few minutes before your morning shower or take a quick walk during your lunch break. Small changes add up quickly!

For patients experiencing symptoms, treatment is so important. If you think you might be suffering from diabetes or if you think you might be at risk, contact your healthcare provider to discuss.

You can make an appointment at Health Partnership Clinic by calling 913-648-2266.

For additional information, visit the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org.