You’ve probably heard of diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes. More than likely, you or someone you know has been diagnosed with this chronic illness. As of 2021, nearly 40 million people in the US had diabetes and almost 100 million people had pre-diabetes.1 This is about 40% of the US population (approx. 340 million). The enormous number of people that have diabetes has made this a growing epidemic that includes 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes every year.2
Diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, which confirms that this condition can be dangerous if it is unmanaged.2 If you are a Black or Brown individual, you are more likely to develop diabetes.2
In this article, we will discuss the basics about diabetes– what it is, how it’s caused, signs and symptoms, and how you can prevent developing it.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-lasting health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.3
If you have diabetes mellitus, it means that your body does not produce enough insulin or your body is unable to respond normally to the insulin it produces (insulin resistance). This keeps excess sugar (glucose) in your blood and keeps your body from being able to use the glucose in your bloodstream as energy.
Insulin is a hormone released by your pancreas that controls the amount of glucose in your blood. Insulin is needed for your muscles to use the glucose in your body as energy.5 Without the proper amount or proper use of insulin, the glucose in your blood is unable to enter your cells. This excess glucose stays in your bloodstream where it can cause damage to other parts of your body, including your heart, your nerves, kidneys and eyes.6
Types of Diabetes
There are 3 main types of diabetes – Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.3,7 Each type of diabetes has unique characteristics, specific to its type.
In Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes, your body does not make insulin or makes very little insulin. This type of diabetes cannot be prevented and you must take insulin every day if you have this type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can develop at any age.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.7,8 If you have this type of diabetes, your body has developed insulin resistance. This means that your body cannot properly use the insulin that your body makes. Over time the amount of insulin your pancreas creates may decrease as your diabetes progresses.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes seen for the first time in pregnancy. It can put you at risk for other pregnancy complications, including stillbirth, delivery problems, and low blood sugar in your newborn. This type of diabetes may go away after the pregnancy ends.9
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes typically develops slowly, so you may not have symptoms. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes typically develop in a very short period of time, in weeks to months. If you have Type 1 diabetes you may be very sick by the time you are diagnosed.10
Symptoms of diabetes include8,10:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hunger
- Feeling tired
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
- Sores that do not heal
What Causes Diabetes?
There are multiple causes of diabetes that vary based on the type of diabetes that you have.
Cause of Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction where your body begins to attack the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. This process may happen for months or years before any symptoms appear. Researchers are still trying to discover exactly what causes the body to attack itself. Some think it may be certain genes or a change in the environment. 11,12
Causes of Type 2 diabetes8,13
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by several factors, including
- Overweight or obesity
- Not being physically active
- Insulin resistance
- Genes and family history
- Hormonal diseases like Cushing’s syndrome or hyperthyroidism
Pre-diabetes1,14
Prediabetes is more common than diabetes, as it affects about 1 out of every 3 adults. Almost 40% of the US adult population and close to 50% of adults 65 years or older have prediabetes.
If you have prediabetes it means that your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If you have prediabetes it probably means you have some insulin resistance. If you continue to have prediabetes over time, you could develop type 2 diabetes.
Risk factors for prediabetes include:
- Overweight or obesity
- Age 45 or older
- A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- African American, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander American ethnicity
- Abnormal blood pressure or cholesterol levels
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Can Diabetes be Prevented?
If you have a family history of diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes, take steps to reach your full health potential. Staying healthy, eating well, and being active are some changes that you can incorporate into your lifestyle.15
The best ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes are losing 5 to 7% of your body weight and keeping it off, getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week, eating healthy foods most of the time, and drinking water instead of sweetened beverages. 5,6,10
Talk with your doctor about what changes you should make to lower your risk for diabetes whether it is lifestyle changes or other medications.
References
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) National Diabetes Statistics Report https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html Accessed August 16, 2024
- American Diabetes Association (2023) Statistics About Diabetes https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes Accessed August 16, 2024
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) Diabetes Basics https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/index.html Accessed August 15, 2024
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2021) Diabetes Insipidus https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/diabetes-insipidus Accessed August 16, 2024
- Merck Manual (2023) Diabetes Mellitus https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/diabetes-mellitus-dm-and-disorders-of-blood-sugar-metabolism/diabetes-mellitus-dm Accessed August 16, 2024
- Cleveland Clinic (2023) Diabetes https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes Accessed August 15, 2024
- American Heart Association (2024) What is Diabetes https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/about-diabetes Accessed August 15, 2024
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2017) Type 2 Diabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes Accessed August 16, 2024
- American Heart Association (2024) Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/pregnancy-and-maternal-health/pregnancy-and-common-heart-conditions/pregnancy-and-gestational-diabetes Accessed August 16, 2024
- Medline Plus (2024) Diabetes https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001214.htm Accessed August 15, 2024
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) About Type 1 Diabetes https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-1-diabetes.html#:~:text=Type%201%20diabetes%20is%20thought,years%20before%20any%20symptoms%20appear. Accessed August 16, 2024
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2017) Type 1 Diabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-1-diabetes#causes August 16, 2024
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2016) Symptoms and Causes of Diabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes#type2 Accessd August 16, 2024
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2018) Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance Accessed August 16, 2024
- American Heart Association (2024) Preventing and Treating Diabetes https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/prevention–treatment-of-diabetes Accessed August 20, 2024
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