Medically reviewed by Dr. Medha Satyarengga and Dr. Chikara Gothong.
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases among people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 38 million people in the U.S. have diabetes.
That’s a big number, but it’s important to know that many other people have risk factors for the disease. In fact, 97.6 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, which increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Many people are diagnosed with high blood sugar during routine checkups that include laboratory testing. By the time you discover you have elevated blood sugar, though, it can already be wreaking havoc in the body. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of diabetes and to seek medical attention if they occur.
Defining Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that causes elevated blood glucose, also called blood sugar. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
When the body is functioning normally, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin. Insulin helps glucose produced by the body, specifically the liver, and in the foods you eat get into the body’s cells to be used as energy. All three forms of diabetes derail that process, leading to high blood sugar, but they do so in different ways.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is generally considered an autoimmune disease. If you have this form of diabetes, your immune system treats the pancreas like it’s an invader, destroying the cells that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes was previously called “juvenile diabetes” because it’s often diagnosed among children and young adults. However, Type 1 diabetes can also be diagnosed in older adults.
Given that the pancreas is unable to make insulin due to autoimmune injury, the treatment of Type 1 diabetes is insulin therapy.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, occurs when your body isn’t using insulin well. Your pancreas may still be producing insulin, but it isn’t enough to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. This is commonly known as insulin resistance. Many people develop Type 2 diabetes later in life, but it can also affect children, particularly those who are overweight or obese and have a strong family history of diabetes.
In many cases, this form of diabetes can be prevented and treated through lifestyle changes, such as getting enough physical activity, reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. Reducing other risk factors, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol and soda intake are also important to improve outcomes associated with Type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
A third type of diabetes — gestational diabetes — affects women during pregnancy. Having gestational diabetes puts women at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. If gestational diabetes was diagnosed during pregnancy, it is important to have repeat testing done around 12 weeks postpartum to evaluate if there is persistence of the condition.
Recognizing the Signs of Diabetes
When you have high blood sugar, you can develop many different symptoms, some more noticeable than others. Common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Hunger, even after eating
- Slow-healing wounds
- Unquenchable thirst
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can also include weight loss with no known cause. This form of diabetes can develop within weeks or months. If you find yourself eating more but still losing weight, Type 1 diabetes could be a potential cause.
In some cases, those who have Type 1 diabetes don’t know they have it until they develop a complication of the disease called diabetic ketoacidosis. This complication can lead to feeling tired, being severely dehydrated and having fruity-smelling breath.
The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are usually milder and not as apparent than those of Type 1 diabetes and develop gradually over months or years. Those with Type 2 diabetes may discover they have diabetes when they experience health complications caused by the disease, including numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, vision loss, and sexual problems.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, check in with your primary care provider, who can help you determine the underlying cause and what to do next.
Prediabetes: Your Sign to Take Action
While Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, Type 2 diabetes often can be. Because Type 2 diabetes typically develops over time and is often caused by lifestyle habits, you can take action to lower your blood sugar into a healthier range.
A prediabetes diagnosis is one red flag that you need to take steps to protect your health. If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but don’t quite reach the level of Type 2 diabetes yet.
While the “pre” in the name may throw you off a bit, having prediabetes can be still be hazardous to your health. Just like people with diabetes, those who have prediabetes are at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Stopping Diabetes Before It Starts
The good news is that having prediabetes doesn’t automatically mean you’ll develop Type 2 diabetes. Healthier lifestyle habits can help you lower your blood sugar into a healthy range, reversing prediabetes and preventing Type 2 diabetes.
If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes or have other risk factors for diabetes, such as insulin resistance or a family history of the disease, lower your risk by:
- Lowering your carbohydrate intake to 45–60 grams per meal, or 120–150 grams per day
- Eating more whole foods, such as vegetables and lean protein
- Getting at least 30 minutes each day of a moderate physical activity like brisk walking
- Limiting your consumption of processed foods, which often contain added sugar, excess sodium and saturated fat
- Losing weight, if needed
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting alcoholic beverage intake
- Working with a medical provider to manage other health conditions you have, such as high blood pressure
Lifestyle changes like these can feel intimidating, so bite off one small chunk at a time. Adding in even a few extra minutes of exercise each day or losing a small amount of weight can make a big difference for your blood sugar and your overall health.
If you’re at a particularly high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or your blood sugar remains stubbornly high despite making lifestyle changes, your primary care provider or an endocrinologist might suggest other options for lowering your blood sugar, including medication or a more specialized dietary program.
More to Read
- 5 Reasons Why You Need a Primary Care Provider
- Tips for Managing Type 2 Diabetes the Healthy Way
- What’s the Best Kind of Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes?
- 5 Diabetes Myths and Facts You Should Know
- 8 Ways to Keep Diabetes at Bay