With nearly 1 in 2 Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes, you probably know someone who is affected. However, many people don’t understand the types of diabetes, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments. Here, we break down diabetes for you and let you know how to assess your risk of developing diabetes.
When someone has diabetes, their blood glucose (blood sugar) levels get too high. There are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin, and eventually, the body is no longer able to make its own insulin. The treatment for type 1 diabetes is regularly taking insulin and monitoring blood glucose levels closely.
- Type 2 diabetes: In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or does not use the insulin it makes properly. This is the most common type of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is typically treated with an eating plan, physical activity, monitoring blood glucose levels, and usually medication. There are a variety of medications available to treat type 2 diabetes, so individuals should work with their doctor to determine what is best for them.
- Gestational diabetes (GDM): This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy. After giving birth, blood glucose levels may return to normal. If they do not, the individual is considered to have type 2 diabetes. Even if blood glucose levels return to normal, someone who has had GDM has a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Treatment for GDM includes special eating plans, physical activity, daily blood glucose testing, and sometimes insulin injections.
Some people may be diagnosed with prediabetes. With prediabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Early treatment includes lifestyle changes, which may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
People with diabetes won’t necessarily have all symptoms, and some people have such mild symptoms that they go unnoticed. Thus, it’s important to know what to watch for, because the early detection and treatment of diabetes can reduce the risk of developing complications. The common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Urinating often
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry, even though you are eating
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
- Weight loss, even though you are eating more (type 1)
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)
Risk factors
The main risk factor for developing type 1 diabetes is a family history of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes. While anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, there are a few risk factors that could make it more likely, including:
- A family history of type 2 diabetes
- Living with prediabetes
- Living with overweight or obesity
- Limited physical activity
- A history of GDM
- Being over the age of 40 (type 2 diabetes risk increases with age)
- High blood pressure
To better understand your risk, take the ADA’s free 60-Second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test at diabetes.org/RiskTest.
While facing diabetes can feel daunting, early detection can help you take steps to treat diabetes, reduce your risk of complications, and improve health outcomes. Only a healthcare professional can diagnose diabetes, so contact your doctor if you are at high risk and/or are experiencing symptoms.
