Diabetes or as our grandparents like to call it ‘the sugar’ is a chronic condition affecting millions worldwide, and has emerged as a significant health concern in recent decades. I want to explore the multifaceted world of diabetes, covering its types, causes, symptoms, management, and impact on the black community and society.
The prevalence of diabetes (type 2 and type 1) will increase by 54% to more than 54.9 million Americans between 2015 and 2030. Annual deaths attributed to diabetes will climb by 38% to 385,000, and total yearly medical and societal costs related to diabetes will increase by 53% to more than $622 billion…
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or any at all, or when your body isn’t responding to the effects of insulin properly. Diabetes affects people of all ages, which is why it’s important to teach kids healthy eating habits early in life. Most forms of diabetes are chronic (lifelong), and all forms are manageable with medications and/or lifestyle changes.
Glucose (sugar) mainly comes from carbohydrates in your food and drinks. It’s your body’s go-to source of energy. Your blood carries glucose to all your body’s cells to use for energy.
When glucose is in your bloodstream, it needs help to reach its final destination. This key is insulin, which is a hormone. If your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or your body isn’t using it properly, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, causing high blood sugar.
Over time, having consistently high blood glucose can cause health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, and eye issues.
What are the types of diabetes?
There are several types of diabetes. The most common forms include:
Type 2 diabetes: With this type, your body doesn’t make enough insulin, and/or your body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin (insulin resistance). This is the most common type of diabetes. It mainly affects adults, but children can have it as well.
Prediabetes: This type is the stage before Type 2 diabetes. Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. An estimated 98 million adults in America are prediabetic. 80% don’t know they have it. Get your blood work done.
Type 1 diabetes: This type is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. Up to 10% of people who have diabetes have Type 1. It’s usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can develop at any age.
Gestational diabetes: This type develops in some people during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes, you’re at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of diabetes
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Increased thirst or dry mouth
- Frequent skin and/or vaginal yeast infections
Additional details about symptoms per type of diabetes include:
Type 1 diabetes: Symptoms of T1D can develop quickly — over a few weeks or months. You may develop additional symptoms that are signs of a severe complication called diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. DKA symptoms include vomiting, stomach pains, fruity-smelling breath, and labored breathing.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: You may not have any symptoms at all, or you may not notice them since they develop slowly. Routine blood work may show a high blood sugar level before you recognize symptoms. Another possible sign of prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of your body.
What causes diabetes?
Too much glucose circulating in your bloodstream causes diabetes, regardless of the type. However, the reason why your blood glucose levels are high differs depending on the type of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes include:
Insulin resistance: Type 2 diabetes mainly results from insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Several factors and conditions contribute to varying degrees of insulin resistance, including obesity, lack of physical activity, diet, hormonal imbalances, genetics, and certain medications (HIV/AIDS medications).
- Autoimmune disease: Type 1 diabetes happens when your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
- Hormonal imbalances: During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that cause insulin resistance. You may develop gestational diabetes if your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance.
- Pancreatic damage: Physical damage to your pancreas — from a condition, surgery, or injury — can impact its ability to make insulin, resulting in Type 3c diabetes.
- Genetic mutations: Certain genetic mutations can cause MODY (Maturity onset diabetes of the young) and neonatal diabetes.
How can you prevent diabetes?
You can’t prevent autoimmune and genetic forms of diabetes. But there are some steps you can take to lower your risk for developing prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, including:
- Eat a healthy diet. Doctor Sebi Diet
- Get physically active. Aim for 30 minutes a day at least five days a week.
- Work to achieve a weight that’s healthy for you.
- Manage your stress
- Limit alcohol intake.
- Get adequate sleep (typically 7 to 9 hours) and seek treatment for sleep disorders.
- Quit smoking
- Take medications as directed by your healthcare provider to manage existing risk factors for heart disease.
It’s important to note that there are some diabetes risk factors you can’t change, such as your genetics/family history, age, and race. Know that Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition that involves many contributing factors.
We are truly facing a health epidemic that is slowly killing us. Much of it stems from our food supply and how food is marketed to us. You have the power to make a change in your life and the lives of your family.