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Diabetes Support & Education
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Normally, your body breaks down food into sugar (called glucose), which enters your bloodstream. Your pancreas makes insulin when blood sugar is high. This hormone helps move sugar into your cells for energy. When someone has diabetes, their body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. This means sugar stays in the blood and can cause serious health problems over time.
Understanding the Different Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes: This form of diabetes happens when the body does not make insulin, the hormone that helps move sugar from food into cells for energy. Without insulin, blood sugar levels rise. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens, or young adults, but it can develop at any age. People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day, monitor blood sugar often, and follow a care plan to stay healthy.
- Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common type of diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, the body makes insulin but does not use it properly. Over time, the body may also make less insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more likely in adults but is now being diagnosed in children and teens as well. Risk factors include being overweight, not being physically active, family history, and certain ethnic backgrounds. Many cases can be prevented or delayed with healthy eating, regular exercise, and weight management.
- Gestational Diabetes: This type develops only during pregnancy when hormones affect how the body uses insulin. While gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, it increases the mother’s chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes may also have a higher risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes as they grow older. Careful monitoring and healthy choices during pregnancy can help protect both mother and child.
Why It Matters
When diabetes is not managed, it can damage major organs over time, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. It is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss in the United States. Early diagnosis, regular checkups, healthy habits, and following treatment plans can help prevent complications. With the right care and support, people with diabetes can lead long, active, and healthy lives.
Diabetes by the Numbers
- More than 38 million Americans are living with diabetes.
- In 2021, 14.7% of U.S. adults, approximately 38.1 million, had diabetes, with 8.7 million of them undiagnosed.
- An older 2019 estimate showed approximately 11.3% of the total U.S. population had diabetes, about 37.3 million people, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases.
- Alarmingly, in 2023, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. teens (ages 12–17), almost 33%, had prediabetes. This is a sharp increase from earlier estimates of about 18%.
- About 12.4% of adults in North Carolina have diagnosed diabetes.
- Every year, roughly 50,200 adults in North Carolina receive a new diabetes diagnosis.
- Diabetes is more common in rural parts of the state, 21.3% of adults in rural areas have diabetes, compared with 11.2% in urban areas.
Sources: CDC National Diabetes Statistics & Diabetes.org
Understanding and Reducing Diabetes Risk
Risk Factors
- Family history of diabetes
- Overweight or obese
- Physically inactive
- Age 45 or older
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- History of gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds
Prevention Tips
- Stay active: Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.
- Eat balanced meals: Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Work with your doctor to find a weight that supports long-term health.
- Limit added sugars: Cut back on sugary drinks and processed foods.
- Schedule checkups: Regular screenings are especially important if you have a family history or other risk factors.
Living Well With Diabetes
Managing diabetes means more than just checking blood sugar. It includes taking prescribed medications, staying physically active, and making healthy food choices each day. Regular visits with your healthcare provider, along with support from family, friends, and community programs, can make living well with diabetes easier and more successful.