Diabetes: Know Your Risks

The next time you are in a store, park or crowded room, look around. Chances are there is someone nearby that is living with diabetes. That is because approximately one in eight people in the U.S. have the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, occurring when the pancreas produces little or no insulin or the body does use it properly. It causes severe health issues such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage. The three most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational.

“Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes,” said Janelle Violago, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist with Penn Highlands Healthcare. “While it usually affects older adults, an increasing number of younger people are developing this form of the disease.”

Risk Factors

Many factors impact the development of type 2 diabetes including:

• Having prediabetes which is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes

• Being overweight

• Being age 45 or older

• Having a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes

• Being physically active less than 3 times a week

Symptoms

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst and dry mouth

• Frequent urination

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Unexplained weight loss

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• Slow healing wounds or cuts

• Frequent skin infections

Diagnosis

There are several ways to diagnose type 2 diabetes.

• A1C Test. This test measures average blood glucose during the past two to three months. With this test, consumption of a sugary drink is not required. This test is usually done in the morning. A result of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.

• Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG). Eight hours of fasting is required for this very simple blood test used to measure the amount of glucose in the blood. It is one of the primary diagnostic tools to detect type 2 diabetes.

• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. This two-hour test checks blood glucose levels before and two hours following the consumption of a special sweet drink. It indicates how the body processes sugar.

Managing Diabetes

While managing diabetes can be challenging, the most effective means is with support from health care providers.

Penn Highlands Healthcare provides diabetes management and nutrition therapy to people of all ages, whether newly diagnosed with diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, and pregnancy with pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes. The specialists help educate and counsel patients on disease prevention, management and ongoing nutrition guidelines. For more information or to find a physician near you, visit www.phhealthcare.org/diabetes.