Written By Dr. Aisha Harris
Diabetes. Diabetes. Diabetes. We have to talk about diabetes – because at least 10% of people in Genesee County have diabetes, but even more are at risk.
There are many things that put someone at risk of diabetes, and some of those risks include family history, obesity, nutrition, physical activity and medical problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Knowing some of the risk factors are important to prevent diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Prediabetes is a medical disorder that means you almost have diabetes and your blood work is showing elevated levels of blood sugar but not high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes. Pre-diabetes is like a diabetes warning and time to reflect on decreasing the risk factors and habits that increase progression to diabetes.
Being aware of what influences and prevents diabetes can help stop you from developing diabetes and also control diabetes if you already have it.
These are some of the facts about diabetes.
- You are not too young to have diabetes. Many people think that diabetes only happens later in life. There is juvenile diabetes or type 1 diabetes that happens in children and young adults, but most people are referring to type 2 diabetes when they are talking about adults.
Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age of adulthood and is impacted by the risk factors someone has and lifestyle choices someone is making.
2. Diabetes is not just occurring in overweight people. Yes, it is true that those who are overweight have increased risk factors for diabetes, but it is more than just extra pounds on the body. There are people who are metabolically unhealthy at a “normal weight” and those who are metabolically healthy and overweight. Extra body weight does not automatically mean you will develop diabetes.
3.Screening for diabetes can occur for various reasons. Screening protocols are established in order to prevent medical problems or catch them early. Screening for diabetes at base will happen for people at 35 years old, BUT, if there are risk factors – then screenings can happen earlier. Risk factors like being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol will cause there to be a recommendation for diabetes screening.
4. Insulin is not the only medication for diabetes. There are many pills and injectable medications for diabetes. Metformin is usually the first line and the first recommendation. But after Metformin there are many options depending on the patient and the medical problems, including multiple types of injectable medications that are weekly compared to daily insulin.
- It’s better to control diabetes early before you may need an amputation or you go blind. Some people diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes will to need medications and will be able to lower and control their blood sugar levels through lifestyle changes like increased physical activity, nutrition changes and losing weight. But others may need medications to help control the diabetes. Either way, it is important to control diabetes as soon as possible.
People do not always feel the complications of diabetes. But poor diabetes control can lead to heart attacks, amputations and dialysis.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease and needing dialysis. Many people wonder how people end up needing dialysis, and diabetes is one of the main causes of decreased kidney function and kidney failure. Dialysis is a procedure often done three times a week where a machine cleans the blood because someone’s kidneys are not able to work properly. When people are on dialysis, they need it because essentially their bodies will slowly have more and more dangerous levels of electrolytes that can cause more medical problems even brain damage and death.
Diabetes continues to be a hidden medical problem that causes irreversible damage to different tissues and organs in the body. People go blind because of diabetes. People lose legs because of diabetes. People have heart attacks and strokes because of diabetes. People end up on dialysis because of diabetes. If it’s been a while since you have been screened for diabetes, ask your medical doctor if it is time to be screened again. If you have never been screened for diabetes, get screened and know your status so you can manage your health better. If you have diabetes, stay in close contact with your medical doctor to get it as controlled as much as possible. And all people should continue to work on their nutrition and physical activity to keep their bodies as strong and healthy as possible.
Dr. Aisha Harris, MD, is a Flint native and board-certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint, Michigan. Harris Family Health is a membership-based clinic that provides personalized and full primary care to adults and children.
Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting www.harrisfamilyhealth.com.
Feel free to submit health questions to Dr Harris via theflintcouriernews@gmail.com.
