Understanding and Managing Diabetes: Types, Tips, and Building Your Care Team

Diabetes is a disease that affects nearly 40 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds. It’s a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.

Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into your bloodstream. Diabetes occurs when too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, causing serious health problems.

There is no cure for diabetes yet, but during November, which is National Diabetes Month, it’s important to remind ourselves of how unfortunately common the condition has become and the impact it can have. The focus of this year’s observance is on managing diabetes, so we compiled this advice from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to help.

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Body

Having high blood sugar from diabetes over time can cause serious health complications throughout your body:

• Eyes: Damaging the small blood vessels at the back of the eyes, leading to vision loss.
• Ears: Affecting how nerve signals travel from the inner ear to the brain, causing hearing loss.
• Heart: Damaging blood vessels and causing high blood pressure, a heart attack, or heart failure.
• Stomach: Damaging the nerves in the stomach.
• Feet: Reducing blood flow and damaging nerves, making a wound more likely to get infected and harder to heal, and increasing the risk of amputation.
• Nerves: Causing numbness or pain that makes it hard to do daily activities.
• Mouth: Increasing harmful bacteria and causing cavities and gum disease.
• Blood Vessels: Damaging blood vessel walls and decreasing blood flow.
• Brain: Damaging blood vessels in the brain and causing a stroke or memory loss.
• Skin: Causing skin infections or changes such as dark patches on the skin.
• Sexual Health: Damaging nerves and reducing blood supply, causing erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness.

Manage Diabetes as Early as Possible

Research has shown that taking action soon after being diagnosed can help prevent diabetes-related health problems. So if you find out you have diabetes, it’s important to take immediate steps to improve your health.

Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about creating a diabetes care plan that can help you manage your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you find out your child has diabetes, work with their pediatrician to set specific goals to improve their overall health and well-being.

Types of Diabetes and Their Unique Management Needs

Diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition. While it affects nearly 40 million Americans, the types of diabetes differ significantly, each requiring tailored approaches to management. Here’s a breakdown of the main types, and it’s essential to consult with your PCP to ensure an individualized care plan.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, though it can appear at any age. Because the body can no longer produce insulin, people with Type 1 diabetes must rely on insulin therapy to control their blood sugar levels.

Management Tips:

• Insulin Therapy: Daily insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump are required to replace the insulin the body no longer produces. Consult with your PCP to determine the best insulin regimen.
• Frequent Blood Sugar Monitoring: Monitoring blood sugar levels multiple times a day helps in managing insulin dosages and food intake. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide real-time insights and should be discussed with your PCP to determine if they’re a good fit for your management plan.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, often linked to lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and body weight. In Type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but the cells do not use it effectively (insulin resistance), causing blood sugar levels to rise.

Management Tips:

• Healthy Lifestyle Changes: A balanced diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight are key to managing Type 2 diabetes. Discuss with your PCP how small lifestyle changes can help and develop a realistic plan for daily activity and nutritious eating.
• Medications: Many people with Type 2 diabetes benefit from medications that help the body use insulin more effectively. Consult your PCP about which medications might be appropriate based on your individual health needs.
• Routine Health Screenings: Since Type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of complications, your PCP can help schedule regular check-ups for blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health metrics to monitor and manage your risk factors.

Build Your Diabetes Health Care Team

Like just about everything else, managing your diabetes is easier with support. That’s why it’s important to have and build a smart, supportive health care team. Having a team of health care professionals can make sure you get a broader range of guidance and tailor your care for your specific needs.

Besides a primary care provider, your health care team might include a nutritionist, certified diabetes educator, and others. So be sure to talk to your primary care provider about what other health care professionals to consult and collaborate with about your diabetes management.

Make Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Part of Your Daily Routine

Physical activity and healthy eating are two of the very best ways to keep your diabetes in check. And neither has to be involved or complicated. They just require consistency.

Set a goal and try to be active most days of the week, even if that means doing something simple as walking. It helps to follow a diabetes meal plan, too. That means choosing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, tofu, beans, seeds, and non-fat or low-fat milk and cheese. Consider joining a support group that teaches techniques for managing stress and ask for help if you feel down, sad, or overwhelmed. And make sure you’re getting enough rest. Sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night can greatly help improve your mood, energy level, and diabetes management.

As a chronic disease, diabetes takes continual monitoring and care. But if you start managing it early, take the good advice of your health care team, and make some simple lifestyle changes, it’s something you and millions of people with diabetes can manage while living your life to the absolute fullest.

Managing diabetes is easier with regular support. Schedule a visit with your primary care provider to stay on track with your goals and get the personalized care you need.