Did you know that November in the United States is National Diabetes Month, and November 14 is World Diabetes Day? According to the American Diabetes Association, each November is a time when communities join together “to ring the alarm on the diabetes epidemic. For the millions of people at risk, it’s a time to get educated, find resources, and make sure all those around us are aware of their risk too.”
We want to do our part to educate, support, and provide access to treatment for anyone diagnosed with or affected by diabetes. This blog provides helpful information on the subject, as well as links to additional resources.
What Is Diabetes, and What’s the Difference Between Types 1 and 2?
There are actually three main types of diabetes, but this blog does not focus on gestational diabetes, which occurs sometimes during pregnancy. Instead, we will define and discuss type 1 and type 2—and share ways to manage or prevent this disease.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines diabetes as “a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.” Many people’s bodies naturally produce a hormone called “insulin,” which helps transform the sugars in the food we eat into energy that the body can use or store for later. With diabetes, the body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use its insulin well, causing blood sugar levels to rise. High blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems over time.
The CDC goes on to explain that type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that stops the body from making insulin. Approximately 5 to 10% of the people with diabetes have type 1. Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age, and symptoms often develop quickly. Those with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive.
With prediabetes, the body may not be able to fully use the insulin it makes, or the body may not make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. People with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. (Learn more about prediabetes in this Mayo Clinic article.)
Type 2 diabetes is sometimes called “adult onset diabetes” because it usually develops over many years and people are adults when they are diagnosed. With type 2, the body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar (also called “glucose”) at normal levels. About 90 to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2. There might not be any noticeable symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at risk. The good news—type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes!
Did you know?
- Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.
- Diabetes is the number 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness.
- In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.
Here are some additional key findings about diabetes in our country.
MythBusters: Common Misconceptions about Diabetes
Speaking of “did you know,” there is a lot of false information about diabetes floating around. Wrong assumptions lead to ill-informed judgements about others, so here are some mythbusters to help set the record straight.
1. Only people who are overweight get diabetes.
- FALSE. All body types can have diabetes. “Diabetes isn’t related to how you look,” explains Misty Kosak, a dietitian and diabetes educator at Geisinger Community Medical Center. “Diabetes comes from insulin resistance, which raises blood sugar.”
2. Consuming sugar causes diabetes.
- FALSE. Eating sugar does not directly cause type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is caused when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin as well as it should, allowing too much blood sugar to stay in the bloodstream. People are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes through no discernible actions of their own.
3. Diabetes can be cured.
- FALSE. There is currently no cure, but studies show that it’s possible for some people to go into remission for type 2 diabetes through diet changes, exercise, and weight loss. Other things that help are taking medicine as prescribed and finding diabetes self-management education and support.
4. Diabetes isn’t really a big deal.
- FALSE. Diabetes can cause serious complications and even lead to death. Some common diabetes health issues include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage—and other problems related to foot, oral, hearing, vision, and mental health.
5. There’s nothing I can do to help myself now that I have diabetes.
- FALSE. There’s plenty you can do to manage the diagnosis and to create a better experience for yourself. You can still live a healthy life by building healthy habits.
Building Healthy Habits Helps Manage Diabetes
Get the support and help you need—for FREE—with Marion County Hospital District programs and initiatives. Here are just some of the tools you will learn in detail during MCHD’s Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP™):
- Improving and maintaining the quality of life of persons with pre- diabetes and existing diabetes
- Preventing diabetic complications and disabilities
- Improving eating habits and maintaining adequate nutrition
- Increasing physical activity
- Developing self-care skills
- Improving the relationship between patients and health care providers
10 Ways to Build a Healthier Lifestyle While Living With Diabetes
Healthy habits can help people with pre-diabetes prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, and they can also help people manage their diabetes diagnosis and improve their quality of life.
Building healthy habits takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the end. Here are ten tips to get you started:
- Replace sodas, energy drinks, and fruit juices with water. Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk.
- Replace fatty foods and processed foods with healthier, fresher options—like eating more fruits and vegetables.
- Learn what you can do to help yourself; this way, you feel more confident, independent, and in control of your health.
- Serve small portions of food at mealtime and don’t insist that everyone cleans every morsel from their plate.
- Find fulfilling ways to reward yourself (and your kids) that aren’t food treats.
- Turn chores into games to see how fast the tasks can get done.
- Take small, manageable steps that fit in your schedule and in your life.
- Focus on the positive and don’t beat yourself up for relapses.
- Find out how to manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can slow your progress.
- Attend our FREE Diabetes Empowerment Education Program to get the information and support you need.
What is MCHD Doing About Diabetes?
Diabetes awareness and prevention constitute a core component of our approach to improving community health. In 2020, the Marion County Hospital District created a Diabetes Consortium with the goal of addressing the need for increased access to free diabetes education in Marion County. The Consortium is comprised of community partners who meet regularly to ensure that free diabetes education is offered throughout the county. Through our Active Marion Project and Community Home Project, we offer diabetes education classes—as well as related assistance with grocery orders and delivery, cooking classes, gardening classes, and Eat Healthy, Be Active classes. Additionally, MCHD invests in strategic initiatives for diabetes prevention and self-management with community partners, including Faithfully Guided, Heart of Florida, Transitions Life Center and Interfaith.
The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP™) is designed for people with pre-diabetes and diabetes, helping them (and their relatives and caregivers) gain a better understanding of diabetes self-care. This evidenced-based 8-week course is facilitated by compassionate MCHD staff and community partners who have received facilitator training and certification through Elder Options. Partnering with AdventHealth, we provide free, confidential pre- and post-screenings that measure vitals and glucose, cholesterol, and other blood levels. This enables participants to track how the habits learned at DEEP positively affect their overall health.
To learn more about our diabetes programs and how we support related community organizations, visit the Marion County Hospital District website.