Pre-Diabetes

This is a condition that comes before diabetes.  It means that the blood sugar levels are higher than normal but are not high enough to be called diabetes.  The fasting blood sugar range for pre-diabetes is 110-126.  A person with pre-diabetes may get type 2 diabetes later on.  The good news is that you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.  Regular physical activity and weight loss are ways to do this.  Ask your doctor to check your blood sugar at your next visit.  Remember that diabetes is a serious disease and with increasing your activity and changing the way you eat you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.  It was previously known as juvenile diabetes.  In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.  Insulin is needed for the body to be able to use sugar.  Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. Insulin injections are needed in type 1 diabetes.  The symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop suddenly.  They include:  increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, sudden weight loss, and feeling very tired.  It is unclear what causes type 1 diabetes.  It may be a family history of type 1 diabetes or a problem with the body’s immune system that causes it to destroy the cells that make insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.  Although it can occur in younger people, it usually begins with people who are over 40 years of age.  In type 2 diabetes, your body may still make insulin, but it either doesn’t make enough or is unable to correctly use the insulin it does make.   Insulin is needed for the body to be able to use sugar.  Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells your cells may be starved for energy.   Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.  People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with meal planning, exercise, oral medications, and/or insulin.  Symptoms of diabetes include:  increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, feeling tired, blurred vision, slow healing of cuts or sores, frequent infections, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, and problems with sexual function.  Learning that you have diabetes may be scary.  But don’t panic. Although type 2 diabetes is serious, it is controllable and people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is a kind of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy.  It usually develops between the 24^th and 28^th weeks of pregnancy and probably will go away when the baby is born.  Women who are over 30 years old, are obese, or have a family history of diabetes have the greatest chance of getting gestational diabetes.  But it can happen to any pregnant woman.  If you have gestational diabetes with one pregnancy, you are likely to have it again in later pregnancies.  Gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms.  How will gestational diabetes affect your baby?  Your baby may have a larger birth size, be jaundice (slightly yellow skin color), or the baby may have a low blood sugar after birth. This will not cause your baby to have diabetes after it is born. Meal planning, exercise, and/or insulin are used to treat gestational diabetes.