Early symptoms are often undiagnosed
When it comes to diabetes, what you don't know can most definitely hurt you. About 1.4 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the United States every year, and more than one in every 10 adults who are 20 years or older are affected. What you may not realize is you can not only prevent it, but it can also be reversed by taking steps in the right direction. Know what to look for, because early symptoms are more specific than you might think.
If you happen to be among the one-in-three Americans whose well-being weighs heavily on the balance of your blood sugar levels, you probably already know how mindful you have to be to manage diabetes. Your attention to your own self-care and your relationship with your doctor can make the difference between sickness and health.
But what if you aren't even aware you have it? According to Dr. Ari Eckman, Chief of Endocrinology at Trinitas, early symptoms can go undiagnosed, unless you are screened for something else and find out coincidentally. What's the best approach? Be aware of the early symptoms and get screened periodically.
If you are 45 or older and overweight, it's a good idea to have a blood glucose screening. If you have a family history of diabetes, you are at greater risk. Diet and exercise are among the best prevention and maintenance tactics.
The saying "you are what you eat" is particularly true, whether you have diabetes, want to prevent it, or are attempting to reverse it. Food can be either part of the problem or part of the solution depending how you use it. Stabilizing your blood sugar levels is easier when your carbohydrate intake is low and your fiber intake is high. It's a myth that diabetics should avoid fruit or carbohydrates because of the high sugar content. However, moderation is a good approach to everything.
Eat as much local and organic food as possible with a low glycemic index and glycemic load, avoid alcohol, trans and saturated fats, and processed food. Well-balanced, healthy meals with a good mix of starches, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and fats are good for you whether you have diabetes or want to prevent it. Sugary drinks should be avoided. Any sweetened drinks like soda, juice and sports drinks, are likely to have high sugar content, even when they contain sugar substitutes.
Exercise is not only a good way or reason to keep your weight down, it is also important to the way the body functions. Your muscles use sugar or glucose for energy, which means that when you exercise, your body uses insulin more efficiently.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent medical conditions among the aged. Of all cases, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, 25% are 65 or older. The good news is, no matter how old you are, diabetes can be managed, and in some cases, reversed.
"The first step is understanding the disease and accepting the diagnosis," says Dr. Eckman. "If you don't have diabetes, your pancreas releases insulin so the body can store and use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. But when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin, or your body doesn't respond appropriately to insulin, and diabetes is the result."
Pre-screening and early diagnosis and are extremely important. If you recognize any of the warning signs, a screening can let you know for sure. Look for things like dry mouth, an increase in thirst and/or hunger, frequent urination, urine infections, unexplained weight loss, headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue. None of these symptoms either singly, or in combination, should be ignored.
There are three major types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce any insulin. The most common is type 2 diabetes, which affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women. Someone can also be pre-diabetic, which means the blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be categorized as having diabetes.
"When you see an endocrinologist, one of the things we do is establish your baseline blood sugar level," Dr. Eckman adds. "Just as with blood pressure and pulse rates, what may be considered low or high to one person is not necessarily the same for someone else. We look for issues like hyperglycemia, which is caused by an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, and hypoglycemia, which indicates the deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream. If your blood glucose gets too high, you may be at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, created by a lack of insulin that causes fat to break down for energy."
In the case that you cannot regulate your blood sugar naturally, insulin and other diabetes medications may be prescribed. Metformin is generally the first line agent for patients with type 2 diabetes. Other pills or even weekly injections may be prescribed to help lower your blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugars normal will help prevent serious complications including blindness, kidney damage, heart disease, stroke and amputations.
Remember, information is power. If you know you have diabetes, or believe you are at risk, trust that there is a better outcome with the proper treatment.
To contact Dr. Eckman's office to make an appointment, please call 908-994-5187.
Click here to get to the Diabetes Management "home page."
Managing your diet can be difficult if you dine out often. Click here to find out about local spots for eating fresh and organic to help manage diabetes with the right food.
Contact Information
Doug Harris
908-994-5138
dharris@trinitas.org
Yolanda Fleming
908-994-5139
Yfleming@trinitas.org