Why it is important to know more about diabetes for Latinos
About 13 percent of Latinos in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes and it is expected to increase in the coming years.
Understanding diabetes, from the different types to genetic and lifestyle risks, can help you prevent or delay this chronic disease.
Diabetes is a long-term health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. A person’s lifestyle, as well as their ethnicity and family history, increases the risk for diabetes. Whether it is Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it is chronic. Although there is no cure, treatment can keep blood glucose in a healthy range.
The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has doubled in the last 20 years, according to the CDC.
Cecilia Jamieson is a clinical diabetes educator with UCHealth Diabetes and Endocrinology Care in northern Colorado. She lays out the basics about diabetes, from genetics and lifestyle risks to prevention, so you can better understand — and hopefully prevent — this chronic disease.
-Are there different types of diabetes?
Yes, there are 4 types of diabetes: Type 1, Prediabetes, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the cells that produce insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes need to replace the needed insulin by injection.
Type 2 diabetes tends to be related more to insulin resistance. While there often is a decrease in insulin production, the body still produces some insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes often can manage their blood glucose (sugar) levels through healthy eating, exercise and medications. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, sometimes insulin is needed as part of treatment.
Gestational diabetes is when blood glucose becomes elevated during pregnancy. The management of gestational diabetes also involves healthy eating, exercise, and sometimes medications or insulin. The goal is to keep blood glucose in the target range throughout the pregnancy to provide the best environment for the developing baby.
Prediabetes is when you have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels but are not yet high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. It is still a serious health condition but allows you to get your blood sugar levels under control, therefore, delaying or avoiding Type 2 diabetes. Just 5-7% weight loss can lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%, which jumps to 71% if you’re over 60. UCHealth offers a Diabetes Prevention Program for prediabetes, which Medicare and some insurance plans cover.
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