Like 38.4 million people in the U.S., which accounts for 11.6% of the population, you have elevated blood sugar. This dangerous condition can damage your internal organs and lead to severe health issues, including heart disease and blindness.
In today’s society, where body image and blame are prevalent, individuals diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes often feel their condition is self-inflicted. They believe poor dietary choices have doomed them to a life of injections and medications. However, this isn’t always true, says Dr. David Bradley, an endocrinologist who leads the diabetes program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Many factors contributing to diabetes are beyond a person’s control, and for the majority, diabetes can be reversed, especially with new drugs that lower blood sugar and facilitate weight loss.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the body’s mechanisms for managing blood sugar levels malfunction. There are two main types:
Type 1 Diabetes: This autoimmune disease causes the body to attack insulin-producing cells, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. It often has a genetic component.
Type 2 Diabetes: Most people with this type are overweight or obese. It affects insulin production and leads to insulin resistance, where muscles do not absorb sugar effectively, and the liver produces excess sugar.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and abdominal pain. If left unchecked, it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, where ketones build up in the blood, causing nausea and vomiting, which can be life-threatening.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms are often subtle. Many patients do not realize they have it because symptoms are less noticeable than Type 1. Common signs include increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurry vision. Often, people have had diabetes for years without knowing.
Ignoring Diabetes: A Big Mistake
Untreated diabetes can lead to severe complications, including cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart failure, and coronary disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients, Dr. Bradley warns.
Understanding Prediabetes
Prediabetes is not a benign condition. Even without full-blown diabetes, prediabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Can Diabetes be Cured?
Type 1 diabetes is currently irreversible, although immunotherapy can delay its onset. Management involves taking insulin, controlling diet, and monitoring blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes, however, can be reversed, primarily through weight loss. Options include:
Gastric Bypass Surgery: This procedure can lead to significant weight loss, often putting diabetes into remission. However, half of these patients may regain weight, and diabetes can return within ten years.
Lifestyle Changes: A lower-calorie diet and increased exercise can reverse Type 2 diabetes.
Medication: Injectable drugs like dulaglutide (Trulicity), semaglutide (Ozempic), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) have been effective. These drugs mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, aiding in weight loss.
Who Should Get Tested?
Screening for Type 1 diabetes is not yet standard but may become more common. Type 2 diabetes screening is recommended for everyone at age 35 and every three years thereafter, or more frequently for those who are obese, have a family history of the disease, or lead a sedentary lifestyle. Women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy should be screened annually.
Why is Diabetes Prevalent in News and Medical Literature?
Diabetes cases have increased significantly since the 1970s, nearly quadrupling between 1980 and 2014. This rise closely correlates with the obesity epidemic. Food trends, such as the availability of processed foods high in high-fructose corn syrup, and socioeconomic factors contribute to this increase. Affordable food often tends to be unhealthy, exacerbating the problem.
Dealing with the Stigma
Patients often feel ashamed of their diabetes diagnosis. However, diabetes is a challenging condition to manage, and many factors are beyond individual control. Dr. Bradley advises those without diabetes to empathize with those who have it and recognize the complexities involved in managing the disease.
“Living with diabetes is not easy,” Bradley said. “There’s no need to feel guilty about being obese or having diabetes. Often, these circumstances are out of our control.”
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