Today nearly 23 million Americans have diabetes. Diabetes affects 150,000 Kansans and their families. Another 65,000 do not know they have diabetes. A child born today has a one in three chance of developing diabetes in their life time.  In other words, you are not alone.  Once diagnosed, many people and their families experience a range of motions from fear, anger, denial, or depression.  We are here to help you gain a better understanding of your diagnosis and give you the tools needed to take control of your disease.  There are different types of diabetes including Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is diagnosed usually in school age children and young adults.  In this type of diabetes the immune system is believed to cause the problems.  The immune system is what helps the body fight colds and infections.  In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system gets the wrong message that the insulin producing beta cells are the bad guys and it goes in and fights and destroys the beta cells.  Therefore, the person can’t make insulin internally any more and must take insulin injections. 

            Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is the most common.  It occurs in about 90% of the people who have diabetes.  People with T2DM, have insulin resistance, which means that even though they are making some of their own insulin, it is not able to do its job.  Insulin is the hormone from the pancreas that helps the food eaten, (that turns into sugar), get into the muscle and fat cells to be used for energy.  If that sugar can’t get into the cells, the body doesn’t have energy.  As the sugar stays in the blood stream and gets to higher and higher levels, people will begin to have symptoms such as being very tired, blurry vision, drinking a lot, and going to the bathroom a lot.  Because people with T2DM are still making some insulin internally, they may be able to take diabetes pills.  If they exercise, eat carefully and lose weight, they may be able to reduce the pills or stop taking them.  Over time, the body’s ability to produce insulin usually stops and insulin injections are required.

            Gestational diabetes  occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery.  It is normally detected between 24-28 weeks gestation.  It is present in less than 15% of all pregnancies.  Risk factors for developing gestation diabetes include having a family history of diabetes, being overweight; previous gestational diabetes, birth of a baby > 9 pounds or a stillbirth.  This type of diabetes requires glucose monitoring and following a meal plan.  Occasionally medications may be prescribed.

Risk Factors

Family history of diabetes

Overweight (BMI>25)

45 years or older

Low activity level

African-American, Hispanic, Native-American Ethnicity

Previous abnormal blood glucose

History of Gestational Diabetes: baby >9lbs, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

High Blood Pressure (>140/90)

HDL cholesterol <35 OR Triglycerides >250

History of Vascular Disease

Symptoms

Extreme tiredness

Blurry vision

Frequent urination

Frequent thirst

Weight loss

Frequent infections

Criteria for Diagnosis:

Normal	Pre-Diabetes	Diabetes
Fasting Glucose <100mg	Fasting Glucose 100-125mg	Fasting Glucose >126mg
2 hours after meals <140mg	2 hours after meals >140mg	2 hours after meals >200 mg
		Random 200mg with symptoms