Understanding Diabetes and Blood Sugar

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Preventing Diabetes

In many cases, diabetes is a preventable disease.  This means that by making lifestyle changes we can improve quality of life. Aim to start small with manageable improvements to what you are already doing and build from there. Dietary changes include eating a variety of whole, unprocessed foods, consuming more fruits and vegetables. Beverages matter too!  Aim to drink more water and avoid sugary drinks.

Physical activity is also important; the CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate level exercise and 2 strength building sessions over the course of a week. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, aim to work more movement into your day wherever possible, like parking farther from your destination and going downstairs to use the bathroom. Try different types of exercise to find the ones that are most enjoyable to you or make activity social by inviting friends.

Prediabetes & Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they usually have prediabetes. This means blood sugar levels that are above the normal range, while not being high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. 

With type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

  • blood sugar levels are elevated
  • high blood sugar can cause serious health problems

Click here or here to learn more about diabetes. Management options should be discussed with your physician.

Symptoms:

  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Numbness/tingling in extremities
  • Frequent Infection
  • Slow Healing Sores

Blood Sugar Testing… Explained!

Diabetes will be detected using blood tests. There are different types of tests to help detect issues. Fasting blood sugar tests measure blood sugar after an overnight fast, or period of not eating anything. A blood sugar level of 99mg/dl or lower is normal, 100 -125mg/dl indicates prediabetes, and 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes.

Random blood sugar tests are done any time, and measure the blood sugar that the moment you are tested. You do not need to avoid eating prior to this test. A test result of 200 mv/dL or above indicates diabetes.

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