Hoag Health Center - Newport Beach
520 Superior Ave, Suite 150
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 764-8065
Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center
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Diabetes 101
In simple terms, diabetes refers to a condition that develops when the body is unable to process the glucose (sugar) from food effectively subsequently resulting in above normal (high) levels of sugar in the blood. If left unmanaged, persistent high blood sugar levels can have serious health consequences leading to heart disease, significant nerve damage, poor blood circulation in the feet, vision (eye) -related complications, and kidney disease.
In people without diabetes, a hormone called insulin (secreted by an organ called pancreas) works efficiently to transport the glucose from the food to body cells to be used as energy for the body. In people with diabetes however, this mechanism gets disrupted and the body is unable to use the glucose effectively as a result of a complete lack of or less than adequate levels of insulin. This causes glucose (sugar) to build up in the blood stream leading to high blood glucose.
Common diabetes symptoms include:
Increased thirst and urination
Increased hunger
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
Sores that do not heal
Unexplained weight loss
These symptoms can start quickly, in a matter of weeks or develop slowly—over the course of several years. Often these symptoms can be so mild that they go unnoticed by patients.
Types of Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes the body attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells; as a result, no insulin is produced. We still do not fully understand why this happens although based on current research and scientific evidence we know that it is not related to our diet or lifestyle. About 5-10% of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Until there’s a cure, this type of diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy and glucose monitoring.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In people with type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce adequate levels of insulin, or it is unable to use the insulin being produced effectively (also known as insulin resistance). As a result, the glucose starts building up in the blood stream leading to high blood glucose. We now know that a variety of genetic and environmental (lifestyle) factors together increase our risk for type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes was typically seen in people above the age of 40, however, in the last decade or so an increasing number of children are developing type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It is a result of the body not being able to produce enough insulin to cope with the additional bodily changes and demands that normally occur during pregnancy. Women are usually diagnosed in the late second-early third trimester of their pregnancy. However, a few women may get diagnosed early on in their pregnancy and it could be that they had underlying diabetes or insulin resistance before they became pregnant – but weren’t aware of it.
All women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life and are encouraged to get tested for diabetes or prediabetes every 3 to 5 years.
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they may have a condition called “prediabetes”, which means their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetes. Long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may be occurring during prediabetes. People with prediabetes you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every one to two years.
Diabetes Management
When you have diabetes, the goal is to maintain blood glucose at a healthy level to prevent future complications and keep your diabetes in control. A diabetes care team can work with you to create a diabetes treatment plan that includes:
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT)- whether you have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, it is not only important to be aware of what you eat but, also how much and when you eat.
Physical activity – daily exercise is one of the most important parts of maintaining your blood glucose levels. It is recommended to partake in 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day to avoid the risk of future complications.
Medication – for type 2 diabetes, you may need to take pills, injectable medication, and/or insulin. To control type 1 diabetes, insulin must be taken through injections or an insulin pump.
Monitoring – it is necessary to frequently monitor yourself to see how your diabetes treatment plan is working to meet your target blood glucose goals
For more information, please visit the American Diabetes Association.
The Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people with diabetes through its clinical, education and support services. Innovative and customized programs at the Allen Diabetes Center include the Sweet Success Program tailored for women who have diabetes while pregnant; pediatric diabetes services, and the Herbert Program for Young Adults with Type I Diabetes.
We strongly encourage everyone with diabetes to seek the guidance of a diabetes education and medical team to avoid becoming a worrisome statistic.
Diabetes Statistics
In 2018, 34.2 million children and adults – or 10.5% of the US population – have diabetes.
Another 88 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.
People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke.
Diabetes causes 50% of all cases of kidney failure.
More than half a million American adults have advanced diabetic retinopathy, greatly increasing their risk for severe vision loss.
More than half of all amputations in adults occur in people with diabetes.
About 60-70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $327 billion.
Direct medical costs reach $237 billion and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than those without the disease.
Indirect costs amount to $90 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality).
One in 7 health care dollars is spent treating diabetes and its complications.
One in 4 health care dollars is spent caring for people with diabetes.
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