Diabetes Awareness and Education

by J. Renee Livsey, RN-BC |  November 1, 2022

 
There are many health observances in the month of November, but we will focus on Diabetes because our community continues to have higher instances of diabetes than other ethnic groups.
 
Type I diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes little or no insulin.  It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin shots every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder.
 
With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more children and adolescents are becoming diagnosed due to obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as: Losing weight. Eating healthy food. Being active.
 
Uncontrolled diabetes is associated with an increased likelihood of having heart disease. It is a leading cause of kidney disease, nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy), and blindness in adults. It is important to speak to your doctor if you have common warning signs of diabetes, which include frequent urination, unintentional weight loss, blurry vision, excessive thirst, and hunger, and numb or tingling hands and feet. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, it is so important to also check your feet every day. Diabetic neuropathy causes numbness in your feet. Tight shoes (blisters), improperly trimmed toenails (injury to skin) and even hot foot soaks (burns) can lead to infections and result in amputations.
It, check their blood sugar and take their medication every day as prescribed by their health care provider.
 
No matter what type of Diabetes you are diagnosed with, being committed to change - to a recommended diabetic diet, and an increase in your activity level is essential to staying healthy.