Signs, symptoms, and prevention tips

Let’s Learn: What is diabetes? 3 typesPrediabetes Risk factors Decrease your chances Quiz

What is Diabetes Who are you and why are you messing with my metabolism? ?

Diabetes A Metabolic Disease for a group of various metabolic diseases that result in high blood sugar. Diabetes is a word because their body can’t produce insulin or because their body “no longer knows what to do” with the insulin it produces. People get high blood sugar

Know Your Glucose Numbers

Vocabulary Points! Insulin is a chemical that turns glucose into energy. Glucose is a simple sugar that is useful to your body. When you test your blood sugar, you are testing the level of glucose in your blood

The Three Types of Diabetes Very different musketeers

1. Type I Diabetes Also known as juvenile diabetes, this form of diabetes is often diagnosed in young people. With type I diabetes, the body starts destroying pancreatic cells -- particularly the ones that make insulin.

2. Type II Diabetes After those cells stop processing insulin, the pancreas become unable to produce enough insulin to meet the new demand. Type II diabetes begins when certain cells in fat, muscle, and liver tissue stop processing insulin correctly. This is the most common kind of diabetes and used to be called adult-onset diabetes.

3. Gestational Diabetes Generally caused by hormones, this type of diabetes sometimes affects women who are near the end of their pregnancies. Gestational diabetes usually disappears after the baby is born, leaving the mother at a greater risk of developing type II diabetes later in life.

There’s also a sneaky additional cousin of diabetes…

Pre-Diabetes If you have pre-diabetes, check your blood glucose levels every year. Lower your risk of getting diabetes by adjusting your diet and exercising more. If your glucose level is high, but not high enough to make you diabetic, then you have pre-diabetes.

How Do I Know if I’m at Risk? A little knowledge is actually a great thing.

Diabetic Risk Factors Friends don’t let friends ignore warning signs Risk factors can be grouped into three general categories… Family Medical Lifestyle Get tested for diabetes if at least one of the following risk factors applies to you.

Family Risk Factors No diabetic is an island If one of your family members has type II diabetes, you are more at risk of getting it yourself. Family background matters too. Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos all have a greater risk of becoming type II diabetics.

Medical Risk Factors Sticks and stones may break your bones, but what about your glucose levels? You are 45 or older. Your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. Your BMI is 25 or higher.You have high glucose levels. You are at risk of getting type II diabetes if…

Medical Risk Factors Sticks and stones may break your bones, but what about your glucose levels? Your HDL cholesterol is lower than 35 Your triglyceride level is higher than 250. You have polycystic ovary syndrome. You have dirty skin that won’t come clean. You are at risk of getting type II diabetes if…

Lifestyle Risk Factors All rest and no activity could make Jack a diabetic boy If you are obese and/or exercise less than three times a week, your chances of getting type II diabetes increase dramatically.

Symptoms of Diabetes If life gives you glucose, make insulin! Be on the lookout if you notice increases in thirst, hunger, fatigue, and urination. More serious signs that you may have type II diabetes include blurred vision, weight loss, and body sores or skin rashes.

How Can I Decrease My Chances of Getting Diabetes? An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

No Diabetes for You! All’s fair in diet and exercise Eat healthy Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Decrease your consumption of sugar, fat, and sodium.

Eat Healthy Good things come to those who eat their vegetables Examine the types and quantities of the food you eat. You don’t have to cut out fat and sodium, just reduce your servings. Keep your fat consumption below 56 grams/day and your sodium consumption below 2000 mg/day. Keep a daily food journal.

No Diabetes for You! All’s fair in diet and exercise Be active in some way EVERY day Start small if you need to, but be sure to be active as often as you can.

Exercise More Often A jog a day keeps the diabetes away Walking, jogging, skipping, or frolicking are all great ways to start a new exercise regimen. Shoot for getting at least 30 minutes of exercise for 5 days each week.

Great News! If you are overweight, you only need to lose 5-7% of your overall weight in order to significantly lower your risk of getting type II diabetes!

Diabetes Review for Everyone! Aren’t you glad it isn’t just “Diabetes for Everyone?”

Quick Quiz -- Part One ____ is a chemical that turns glucose into energy. * Diabetes* Insulin * Pancreas* Fructose True or false: People get high blood sugar when they can’t produce or process insulin.

Quick Quiz -- Part Two Which of the following is NOT a symptom of diabetes? * Increased urination* Weight loss * Blood clots* Skin rashes True or false: There is a cure for type II diabetes, but not for type I or gestational diabetes.

Quick Quiz -- Part Three If you are obese, your chances of getting diabetes _____. * Decrease* Stay the same * Increase* Don’t matter True or false: If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you should be tested for diabetes.

Quick Quiz -- Part Four If you want to decrease your risk of getting diabetes, you should be active ____. * Rarely* Every other day * When it is sunny* Every day True or false: You should increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and beans in order to decrease your risk of contracting diabetes.

We Quizzed You -- Now You Can Quiz Us Do you have any questions?

For More Information: American Diabetes Association – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International – National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention – National Diabetes Education Program – National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse –