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Know Your Risk | ADA (diabetes.org)

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body is able to turn food into energy. The food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and released into your bloodstream. As your blood sugar goes up, your pancreas releases insulin. This allows the blood sugar to enter your body’s cells for use as energy. A person with diabetes doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t properly use insulin. There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens and young adults, but it can develop at any age.
• Type 2 diabetes occurs when your cells don’t respond normally to insulin, which is known as insulin resistance. Out of the 34 million Americans with diabetes, approximately 90%-95% of them have Type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. People with Type 2 diabetes may not initially experience any symptoms. However, those with Type 1 diabetes may experience severe symptoms that can develop in a short amount of time.

Signs and symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may include:

• Thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• The presence of ketones in the urine
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections (e.g., gum, skin or vaginal infections)

How can you address diabetes?

In order to properly manage diabetes, it’s important to do the following:

• Monitor your blood sugar—Carefully monitoring your blood sugar is the only way to make sure your blood sugar is within your target range.
• Undergo insulin therapy, if prescribed—Many people with diabetes need insulin therapy to survive. There are multiple types of insulin available. Depending on your needs, your doctor may prescribe a mixture of insulin types to use throughout the day and night.
• Eat healthy—Enjoy a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, avoiding foods high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates.
• Stay physically active—Exercise lowers your blood sugar level by moving sugar into your cells where it’s used for energy. It’s important to aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day.

Where can I learn more?

If you are experiencing symptoms of diabetes, contact your doctor. For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Between 90% and 95% of those diagnosed with diabetes in the United States have Type 2 diabetes. Formerly called adult onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, the condition is increasing at an alarming rate due to the current obesity levels in the United States.

About the Condition

Type 2 diabetes causes the body to resist insulin, a hormone that controls the absorption of sugar. As a result, a normal glucose level cannot be maintained. People can develop Type 2 diabetes at any age, including during childhood years. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 is usually preventable with a balanced diet and exercise. Unfortunately, once present, Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Causes and Risk Factors

While it is not completely understood why some people develop Type 2 diabetes, research has shown the following factors significantly increase the risk of developing the disease:

• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Genetics
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Ethnicity (being African American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Asian American)

• Age (risk increases as you get older, especially after age 45)
• Having pre-diabetes—left untreated, it likely will develop into Type 2 diabetes
• Previously or currently having gestational diabetes
• Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

Symptoms

Consult your doctor if you’re concerned about diabetes, or if the following symptoms appear:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Weight loss despite eating more than usual
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
• Patches of dark skin in folds and creases of the body

Testing

It is recommended that anyone 45 years of age or older consider getting tested for diabetes, as well as those under age 45 who are overweight. The following tests are used for diabetes diagnoses:

• Fasting plasma glucose test: This measures blood glucose after abstaining from eating for at least eight hours.
• Oral glucose tolerance test: This measures blood glucose after at least eight hours without eating and two hours after drinking a glucose-containing beverage.
• Random plasma glucose test: During this test, the physician checks blood glucose no matter when the last meal was consumed. This test is administered in addition to an assessment of symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, and unexplained weight loss.

Positive results should be confirmed by repeating the fasting plasma glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test on another day.

Management

Those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes need to follow a stringent daily plan to ensure that blood glucose is kept in the proper range, such as:

• Following a specific meal plan
• Being physically active
• Taking prescribed medication, including insulin if needed
• Testing blood glucose as recommended
• Keeping daily records of blood glucose levels and any unusual issues that come up during the day

Dangers and Complications

Left uncontrolled, there are several serious complications that can arise from type 2 diabetes, such as:

• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Blindness or eye disease
• Kidney failure
• Nerve damage
• Osteoporosis
• Skin infections
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Gum infections

Prevention

Take the following precautions to help avoid developing Type 2 diabetes:

• Get a routine diabetes screening.
• Make healthy food choices—select foods low in fat like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Monitor salt intake and choose foods with a low salt content.
• Get more physical activity—aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. If a long workout is not possible, break it up into smaller sessions spread throughout the day.
• Lose excess weight—even a loss of 10 pounds may lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

For more information, contact the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

Know Where to Go for Your Health Care

Keeping your health care costs in check could be as simple as making the right choice when you need medical care. When you have an illness or suffer an injury, you understandably want to feel better fast, but making the wrong choice about where to receive care can cost you.

The average outpatient emergency room (ER) visit costs $1,917, according to the Health Care Cost Institute. This means that if you head to the ER when you don’t really need emergency care, your wallet is going to feel the pain.

Where Should I Go?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to know where to draw the line when it comes to choosing if you should go to the ER, urgent care or your primary doctor. Here are a few guidelines to help you know where to go next time you’re sick or injured.

Emergency Room

A visit to the ER is the most expensive type of outpatient care and should only occur if there is a true emergency, or a life-threatening illness or injury. Examples of conditions that should be addressed in the ER include, but aren’t limited to:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Poisoning or suspected poisoning

Urgent Care

Urgent care centers handle nonemergency conditions that require immediate attention—those for which delaying treatment could cause serious problems or discomfort. Sprains, ear infections and high fevers are conditions that can be treated in urgent care centers. Urgent care visits are less expensive than ER visits, but are typically more expensive than a visit to your primary care doctor.

Doctor’s Office

For most nonemergency illnesses or injuries, the best choice for medical care may be a visit to your primary care physician. Your regular doctor knows you best, has your medical history, and has the expertise to diagnose and treat most conditions. In addition, going to the doctor’s office is usually the most cost-effective option.

What’s Next?

Now that you’re aware of the differences between these types of health care facilities, next time you’re sick or hurt, you’ll be prepared to make the right decision for your health and wallet.   

Fall is in the air! There is so much to look forward to about this season of change… the return of pumpkin spice, the turning of the leaves, and of course all of our fall programs at the Y! This newsletter is to inform you of all the fun, healthy activities you have access to through the YMCA of Greater Louisville. Remember, all of these options are available to you and your family, even if you are not already a member of the Y. Keep reading to learn more!

Y members do receive extra benefits, including member discounts on childcare and youth sports. If you’d like to take advantage of what our memberships have to offer, become a member today.

Have questions or just want to connect? Feel free to email me at abegley@ymcalouisville.org.