Did you know an estimated 79 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes? It is important to know about some of the symptoms and methods of preventing this condition.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.

What is glucose?

Glucose comes from the food you eat.  Glucose is used as fuel for your body to give you energy. Since your body needs glucose for energy, your blood always has some glucose in it. But having too much glucose in your blood is not healthy.

An organ in your body called the pancreas makes insulin. Insulin helps glucose get from your blood into your cells. Cells then take the glucose and turn it into energy.

If you have diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin or your cells cannot use insulin very well. Glucose builds up in your blood and cannot get into your cells. If your blood glucose stays too high, it can damage many parts of the body such as the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

What are the three types of diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes: This diabetes happens because the body can’t produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics need to get insulin from shots or a pump everyday.

How you get it: People who have type 1 diabetes are usually born with it.

Type 2 Diabetes: This diabetes happens because the pancreas still makes some insulin but cells cannot use it very well?. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may need to take insulin or pills to help your body’s supply of insulin work better.

Common Symptoms: frequent urination, frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts and bruises that heal slowly, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Many times type 2 diabetics will have no symptoms.

How you get it: This type of diabetes is also called adult-onset diabetes.  Being overweight increases a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes.  People who make unhealthy food choices or are not physically active are more likely to get type 2 diabetes. It may be easier to get this type of diabetes if there is someone else in your family with it.

Gestational Diabetes: this diabetes develops during pregnancy. It usually goes away after the birth of the child.

So what can you do to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes?

·         You can take the Diabetes Risk Test from the American Diabetes Association to see what your risk level is. You can take it here: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/. You can then browse the website to learn more if you’d like.

·          If you think you may be at risk, there are steps you can take to prevent type 2 diabetes (and pre-diabetes). Living a healthier lifestyle is the first thing you can do. Steps include:

o         maintaining a balanced diet, as dictated by the food plate: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

o        exercising regularly

o        maintaining a healthy weight

·          Learn more about diabetes through these other sites:

o        http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/ —American Diabetes Association

o        http://web.diabetes.org/link/link_for_life/main.html —interactive guide to diabetes

o     http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ 

If you think you may have pre-diabetes, you may want to seek medical help.

Diabetes affects people all over the world. Knowing a little more about it, you can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Next time you’re drinking that sugary soda, think twice before refilling that cup.