Diabetes 101
We love hearing from our CCN Team Members! Today, Allison is giving us an overview of Diabetes and sharing all kinds of information you need to know. Take it away, Allison!
Diabetes and prediabetes have been hot topics in the wellness industry these days, and maybe for good reason: the estimated cost of diabetes in the US was more than $400 billion in 2022. We hear more and more about blood sugar control and insulin resistance on social media, from fitness professionals, family members, and maybe even from our doctors. So, what do you need to know?
Diabetes 101
First, it’s important to understand how insulin works or should work in the body. When we eat carbohydrates, our bodies break them down into glucose. This causes glucose to rise in the bloodstream; it needs to be carried into our cells where the sugar can be used for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells in the pancreas, is released in response to carbohydrates and helps channel glucose into the cells that need it.
Diabetes describes a condition in which insulin either doesn’t work properly in the body or isn’t made in sufficient amounts in the body. There are actually many different kinds of diabetes and today we’re going to discuss some features of the most common types: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, or T1DM, is far less common than type 2 diabetes, accounting for 5-10% of all diabetes diagnoses. It is a condition in which the pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin and is thought to be caused by an autoimmune response. This response destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the glucose can’t be taken up by the cells and gets trapped in the bloodstream, causing what we know to be “a high blood sugar”. Because of this insulin insufficiency, people with T1DM must administer insulin via pumps, pens, or syringes to help regulate blood sugar levels, making them insulin-dependent. This also requires consistent monitoring of blood glucose, either via finger sticks using a blood glucose monitor or through use of a continuous glucose monitor that is typically placed on the arm for 7-14 days.
Though formerly referred to “juvenile diabetes”, T1DM can affect persons of any age with more and more adults being diagnosed. Symptoms appear more suddenly compared to type 2 diabetes, and include frequent urination, blurry vision, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, weight loss, and severe fatigue. Extremely high blood sugar levels can cause DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis, a very serious diabetes complication, which in some cases, unfortunately occurs before a diagnosis is made. If you have a family history of type 1 diabetes, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about your risk.
Gestational Diabetes
This is a transient form of diabetes that strikes when not enough insulin is being made during pregnancy to regulate blood sugar levels. Gestational diabetes can occur in women who may or may not have had diabetes prior to getting pregnant and affects 2-10% of pregnancies. If you attend regular prenatal visits, your doctor should screen for gestational diabetes between 24- 28 weeks, with some high-risk testing occurring earlier. Management usually involves checking blood sugar regularly and potentially changing some dietary or physical activity factors. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after giving birth.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, or T2DM accounts for 90-95% of diabetic diagnoses. T2DM used to be referred to as “adult-onset diabetes”, but children and teens can be affected as well. This is a condition in which insulin is being made, but over time, the body stops being able to use insulin as effectively. Therefore, a person with T2DM may experience a blood sugar “spike” following a meal high in carbohydrates, because the body can’t process the sugar as well. While some blood sugar fluctuations are normal, blood sugar stays high in T2DM, meaning some intervention is needed to help bring it down. Management includes a variety of tools including medication, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, the use of synthetic insulin as well. Symptoms of T2DM are similar to symptoms of T1DM, like frequent urination, excessive thirst, and fatigue, but tend to come on more gradually.
Breaking It Down
If you struggle to remember the differences between Type 1 and Type 2, you can use the key analogy! Think of insulin as the key that helps unlock our cells to let sugar, or glucose in.
Type 1 Diabetes = No key, no entry. Glucose is trapped in the bloodstream = high blood sugar
Type 2 Diabetes = keys are being made, but the locks become rusty over time. Insulin can’t unlock as many cells, and some glucose gets trapped in the bloodstream = high blood sugar
Chronically high blood sugar, in both T1DM and T2DM can cause damage to the blood vessels, kidneys, heart, and eyes.
Moving Forward
If you have a family history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, consider talking with your healthcare provider about your risk.
Unfortunately, diabetes diet culture exists and can create difficulties for managing diabetes, both physically and mentally. Too often, people with diabetes leave their doctor’s office with a diagnosis, a prescription, and a 1-page-handout on how to follow a diabetic diet. It’s rare that personalized guidance is given, and when it is, it may backfire, especially if it’s focused on weight loss and low-carb diets. These guidelines make it way too easy for a person to develop an unhealthy relationship with food or their body due to fear of blood sugar consequences. Additionally, anyone with diabetes is at higher risk for developing disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. If you’re struggling to understand how nutrition, movement, stress, sleep, and overall physical and mental health impact your blood sugar, our dietitians and therapists at Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition are here to help!
Sources Used:
The Cleveland Clinic. “Type 1 Diabetes”. The Cleveland Clinic. February 15, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21500-type-1-diabetes
US Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “What is Type 1 Diabetes”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html
US Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Gestational Diabetes”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 23, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html
US Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Type 2 Diabetes”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 15, 2024.
Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition is an outpatient nutrition and body image counseling center, with locations in Indianapolis and Carmel, that provides compassionate, holistic eating disorder treatment. Through practicing mindfulness, intuition, and Health At Every Size, we are on a mission to help you find a true state of well-being! We take an anti-diet, weight-inclusive approach with all our clients and work to help guide you towards a way of healthy living designed by you, just for you! This post is for education purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for treatment for an eating disorder. If you are looking for a registered dietitian or therapist to assist you on your recovery journey, please reach out today!
