May 22, 2025 9 Surprising Facts About Diabetes

Knowing key information can help you manage—and even prevent—the disease.

Discovering that you have prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes can feel as if your body is betraying you. But diagnosis isn’t always destiny. By partnering with your primary care physician (PCP), you can make lifestyle changes that will lower your blood glucose (sugar) levels and help you live a healthier life—sometimes without needing medication.

“In my practice, I’m seeing that patients with prediabetes and diabetes are more motivated than ever to lower their blood sugar through diet and exercise,” says internist Jasmeet Mehta, MD, a member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. “As a PCP, I’m here to help patients believe in themselves so they have the courage to make these positive changes.” Learning more about diabetes and prediabetes can help you take a more active role in improving your health and well-being. Here are nine essential facts that you might not know about these conditions.

1. It’s not always about your weight.
   While excess weight is a leading risk factor for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, some people may also have a genetic predisposition to the conditions. “Other risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and elevated stress levels,” Dr. Mehta says.
2. Type 2 diabetes = insulin resistance.
   “The best way to understand diabetes is to understand what happens when we eat,” Dr. Mehta says. Meals—especially those high in carbohydrates—cause glucose levels in your body to spike. In response, your pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, which helps cells absorb energy-providing glucose from food. Insulin resistance occurs when your body's cells become less responsive to insulin after meals, which causes glucose to build up and elevates blood sugar levels.
3. You could have prediabetes without knowing it.
   About a third of Americans live with prediabetes, but 80 percent of them don’t even know they have it. The key to finding prediabetes is a hemoglobin A1c blood test, which measures average blood sugar levels over the previous three months. “An A1c between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates that you have prediabetes,” Dr. Mehta says. “An A1c of higher than 6.4 means you have diabetes.” Finding elevated blood sugar levels early gives you a chance to take steps that can prevent full-blown diabetes.
4. Subtle signs may provide an early warning.
   Sometimes, people with prediabetes or diabetes will feel more tired than usual. They also may experience increased hunger and/or thirst, take in more food and urinate more frequently. More severe symptoms can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. But every person experiences symptoms differently—and some may not have them at all. “I’ve seen patients with an A1c of 7 show many symptoms—and others with an A1c as high as 10 who are completely asymptomatic,” Dr. Mehta says.
5. Uncontrolled blood sugar is dangerous.
   “Diabetes is considered equivalent to having heart disease, and we encourage people with diabetes to take statins to lower their cholesterol and reduce their risk of a heart attack,” Dr. Mehta says. Diabetes also increases the risks of peripheral artery disease, stroke, foot ulcers and hormone-related conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome. Chronically high blood sugar can further cause vision changes (diabetic retinopathy) or numbness in your extremities (diabetic neuropathy), and can lead to poorer mental health.
6. Diet and exercise may help more than you think.
   The “prescription” for blood sugar control often involves nutrition and activity. Dr. Mehta recommends reducing carbohydrates, processed foods and added sugar. “Avoid sodas and sugary drinks, and sip your coffee or tea without sugar,” Dr. Mehta says. People with prediabetes or diabetes will also benefit from a brisk walk or other aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day, four or five days each week. “I tell my patients to walk as if they’re late for work,” Dr. Mehta says.
7. New tools offer greater control.
   Years ago, a diagnosis of diabetes meant needing insulin injections. Today, people have better options to manage their diabetes. “My first recommendations are diet, exercise and metformin, an oral medication that helps keep blood sugar levels under control,” Dr. Mehta says. More recently, GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) have proven effective for some people with diabetes. “These drugs help people suppress their appetite, lose weight and improve diabetes and other comorbid conditions,” Dr. Mehta says. “I’ve seen great improvements in A1c levels within three months of using these medications.”
8. Fighting diabetes is a team effort.
   The road to managing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes starts with your PCP. “We will run an A1c test as a normal part of your annual physical so we can identify prediabetes or diabetes sooner,” Dr. Mehta says. If you have diabetes, you should track your blood sugar levels daily and see your primary doctor regularly to keep diabetes in check and prevent related health conditions.
9. There is no one-size-fits-all.
   Managing diabetes can be tricky. “But don’t get disheartened if you see a medication working for someone else and not for you,” Dr. Mehta says. “Talk openly with your PCP about it, and we’ll work together to find a different approach that will benefit you the most.”

Learn more about RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group primary care services.