Intro to Diabetes

The material contained in this video presentation provides general information on the management of diabetes. This information is for reference purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. For specific information and recommendations based on your health condition, please consult your medical provider.

Hello, my name is Annette McClenaghan. I'm a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist here at Lee Health, and today I'm here to talk to you about an introduction to diabetes.

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the amount of glucose or blood sugar gets too high. Glucose or sugar is our body's main source of energy, which comes mostly from the foods that we eat, the pancreas, glucose, and hormones. When we eat, there are several things going on behind the scenes to regulate our blood.

Sugars. Glucose, which is what happens when our body breaks down. Carbohydrates is the body's main source of energy, the pancreas. An organ that sits behind the stomach produces hormones, insulin, and glucagon. The main function of that hormone insulin is to help that glucose or sugar get out of our bloodstream and into our cells for fuel and energy glucagon.

Another hormone released by the pancreas is responsible for increasing blood glucose, not related to food eaten at a meal. So in summary, when we eat food, particularly carbohydrates, we digest that carbohydrate, and our body breaks it down and turns it into glucose. Signals go off.

In the system where your pancreas releases that hormone called insulin and insulin, it's like the doorman. It has the key. It opens the door for that glucose to get out of your bloodstream and into your cells for fuel and energy.

When we don't get that glucose from the carbohydrates that we eat, that is when you may also have hormones like glucagon released from the pancreas that signals the liver to release glucose for fuel and energy symptoms of high blood sugar.

Glycemia symptoms can be increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, feeling tired or fatigued, blurry vision, more frequent infections, and some people may not feel any symptoms at all with high blood sugar.

How is diabetes diagnosed? Diabetes is diagnosed by having lab values tested using one or more of these three tests. The fasting glucose test can be drawn at the lab, and a normal range is less than 100 at diagnosis.

A fasting glucose between a hundred and 125 is considered to be in the pre-diabetes range, and at diagnosis, a fasting glucose of 1 26 or higher is considered to be diabetes. Another test is the oral glucose tolerance test, again, done in the laboratory.

This test, you will start by drinking a glucose load or a sugary substance. The lab will then draw your blood two hours after drinking that glucose. If the blood glucose levels stay below one 40 at that two hour mark, that is considered to be in the normal range.

A glucose between one 40 and 1 99 is considered to be in the pre-diabetes range, and a glucose level of 200 or higher is considered to be in the diabetes range.

And a third test that can be used is the A1C test. This tells us what your average blood sugar level has been over the past two to three months. An A1C less than 5.7% at diagnosis is considered to be in the normal range.

An A1C of 5.7 to 6.4% at diagnosis is considered to be pre-diabetes, and an A1C of 6.5% or greater is considered diabetes. It is not necessary to fast for the a1c lab test types of diabetes. There are several different types of diabetes.

We will be introducing the two most common types of diabetes today. Type one diabetes and type two diabetes, type one diabetes. This is less common and occurs in only five to 10% of people who are diagnosed with diabetes. It is more commonly diagnosed in children and young adults.

There are no risk factors and they don't know the causes. The body's immune system destroys the cells that make insulin in the pancreas. This means that the body can no longer make insulin. Insulin must be taken every day to live. So people with type one diabetes must always be on insulin injection therapy.

Type two diabetes. This is the most common form of diabetes with about 90 to 95% of people having type two diabetes with type two diabetes. One of the biggest issues is insulin resistance. The cells can't use the insulin well, it cannot get that job done. We talked about insulin being the doorman or having the key to open the door for glucose to get out of your bloodstream and into your cells for fuel and energy with insulin resistance. That doesn't happen. It's almost like that door has rusty hinges.

Another thing that can occur with type two diabetes is that pancreas is producing insulin, but it is not making enough to keep up with the body's needs, and a third thing that can go on with type two diabetes is that that liver releases too much of that stored glucose.

Somebody with type two diabetes may or may not take insulin. Injection therapy. Risk factors to develop diabetes being above the age of 40, having a family history of diabetes, having a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides, women with a history of gestational diabetes, that form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle.

So if you're not physically active more than three times a week, poor eating habits belonging to certain ethnic groups. Certain ethnic groups tend to have a higher risk of developing diabetes, such as African-Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Pacific Islanders, Asian-Americans, long-term therapy with steroids and P C O S, polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The risk factors listed in blue are ones that we have the power to change. Why is managing diabetes important? Keeping blood sugar levels in the target ranges prevent complications. That's our goal with diabetes. Our goal is to live well with diabetes. What are the complications that we are concerned about? Diabetes can lead to an increased risk for stroke, heart attack, peripheral artery disease or circulation problems, diabetes, eye disease, kidney damage or diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage, and diabetes foot ulcers.

The key is just because you have diabetes does not mean that you're going to have all these complications. Our goal is to manage the diabetes to prevent the complications, and it's never too late because if you already have some complications, you still wanna reel this in, manage the blood sugars, and prevent new complications from occurring.

Management of diabetes education is key. It's important to understand the condition.

Knowledge is power. Practicing daily self-care behaviors such as following a carbohydrate controlled meal plan and daily exercise are important. Monitoring blood glucose levels and keeping blood glucose levels in the target range. Taking medication as prescribed, type one diabetes always requires insulin therapy. Type two diabetes may include oral medication, injectable non-insulin medications, and or insulin therapy. This video provided a brief overview of diabetes to learn more and obtain support.

Please reach out to ation specialist. Thank you.