Diabetes
Based on data from the CDC, it is estimated that about 13% of US adults suffer from diabetes. Of those, 10% are diagnosed and about 3% are estimated as undiagnosed. It is estimated that another 35% of the adult population is pre-diabetic. That means about 48% of our adult population is either diabetic or pre-diabetic. What is most alarming is that the CDC has recorded percentages going up over the past two decades. Meaning that even with all the money spent on diabetes, insulin, research, and health care for treatment of the symptoms, the incidence rate of diabetes continues to increase. Needless to say, it is a major issue in this country. Clearly something needs to change.
Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level is elevated above an acceptable range. Blood sugar levels can become dangerously high and lead to potentially fatal conditions. On average, blood sugar levels hover around a higher range than they should. This is especially true when it is just managed with medications. Increased levels of sugar in the blood cause damage to the cells and result in a multitude of symptoms.
Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body produces little to no insulin on its own. This can be due to a genetic anomaly at birth, but is more commonly due to an autoimmune condition attacking the pancreas cells which produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any stage of life but is more commonly diagnosed in children and young adults.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes and displays as a resistance to insulin. This condition makes up over 90% of all diabetic cases in the US. In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin that its cells cannot use due to overstimulation. This condition is typically found in older individuals, however, the age range for Type 2 diabetes is getting lower and lower. This insulin resistance is caused by poor lifestyle habits which are often formed at a young age but do not show their effects until later in life.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a classification given to those whose blood sugar levels are elevated, but not yet high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. This condition is essentially the yellow light indicating a need to slow down and make changes before that light goes red. It means there is still time for the light to turn back to green and to reverse the condition without the need of medication. However, this can only be done if the warning is taken seriously and the appropriate changes are made.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who suffer from very high blood sugar levels. It often resolves with proper management following the birth of the baby, but can oftentimes cause lasting effects and an increased likelihood of the mother developing Type 2 diabetes.
The main concern of all of these types of diabetes, and several sub types such as Type 1.5 or Type 3, is getting the blood sugar level under control. There are many ways to accomplish this, and treatment can vary depending on the type (or rather, the cause) of the diabetes. There are many signs and symptoms of elevated blood sugar, but here are some of the most common:
- Increased urination
- Increased thirst
- Always hungry, yet always tired
- Recurrent infections
- Slow healing wounds
- Blurred vision
- Numbness, tingling, or burning of the hands or feet
If left untreated, these symptoms are likely to progress into more major complications. Persistently high levels of blood sugar cause continuous damage to the small arteries supplying blood to the cells. As a result, these cells begin to deteriorate and can eventually die. Complications include heart disease, glaucoma, kidney failure, neuropathy, blindness and even limb amputation. Because of this, it is important to take action on correcting these conditions immediately.
The traditional medical approach to diabetes is generally an emergency, quick-fix method of lowering blood sugar applied over time. This means using medications such as insulin or metformin to force the sugar out of the blood and into the cells. While this is necessary in certain cases and often required to get people into a safe range, we need to make an effort to identify HOW the diabetes began and to resolve the underlying cause. If the underlying cause is not addressed, people most often develop a dependency on the medications. At this point, the medications, the frequent finger-sticks, the symptoms the medications do not help, and the side effects that come with the medication can all feel like a lifelong sentencing.
At New Life Healthcare, we aim to identify what is causing the high blood sugar, then coach and support you in making the ideal changes for your unique needs. The typical answer of “eat better and exercise more” isn’t enough. It requires understanding the individual and putting together a truly sustainable plan of action that works for them.