Facts, resources for recognizing, managing diabetes
LAS CRUCES - November is American Diabetes Month and an opportunity to shed light on a disease that affects 1 in 11 Americans, according to healthfinder.gov.
“Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood sugar due to defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both,” said Judith Gabriele, program manager for the New Mexico Department of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
In 2015, an estimated 225,520 adults (age 18 and older) in New Mexico had diabetes, with only 4 in 5 of these adults aware they had the condition, according to the 2015 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S., according to healthfinder.org.
In New Mexico, a total of 6,165 deaths occurred from 2005 to 2014 in which diabetes was listed as the primary cause, with a yearly average of 617 deaths, according to the survey.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Gabriele, the following are the forms of diabetes:
• Prediabetes: When blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If left untreated, prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes can often be reversed through positive lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and being more physically active.
• Type 1 diabetes: When the body cannot make insulin (a hormone that helps glucose get into the cells of the body), so it’s necessary to take insulin every day. Type 1 diabetes is not as common than Type 2 diabetes; about 5 percent of the people who have diabetes have Type 1. There is currently no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes: When the body can’t properly use insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and can occur at any age. In some cases, Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health issues, like heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and loss of toes, feet or legs.
• Gestational diabetes: A form of diabetes some women can get when they are pregnant. Even if a woman’s blood sugar levels go down after her baby is born, she is at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
According to the CDC, the following are the risk factors for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes:
• Being overweight
• Being 45 years of age or older
• Having a parent or sibling who has Type 2 diabetes
• Being physically active fewer than three times per week
• Giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
• Having diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)
• Certain races are at a higher risk, including African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders and some Asian Americans
Here are the signs and symptoms of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association:
• sudden weight loss
• frequent urination
• extreme thirst
• blurry vision
• wounds that are slow to heal
• extreme fatigue
• feeling extremely hungry, even though you are eating
• weight loss, even though you are eating more (Type 1)
• tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet (Type 2)
• Women with gestational diabetes often have no symptoms. At-risk women to be tested at the proper time during pregnancy.
“I would encourage patients who have symptoms to talk to their doctor and get tested for diabetes, or if they have a family member that has diabetes, they should be tested for diabetes and it should be part of their annual checkups,” TJ Jasso, registered nurse and diabetes educator with Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach, said.
Those who have been diagnosed with diabetes should visit a health care provider and a Certified Diabetes Educator regularly to prevent complications, Gabriele said.
“A CDE will help the person with diabetes learn how to manage their disease, including getting regular check-ups; monitoring their blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol; eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity; taking medications as directed; quitting tobacco and managing stress,” she said.
People with diabetes should exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This can include activities as simple as going for a walk or dancing. They should also educate themselves on the kinds of foods that can affect their blood sugar, Jasso said.
"A common myth is that people with diabetes need to eat special foods, when in fact, they benefit from the same healthy diet that is good for everyone else — plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, with a limited amount of fat and refined sugar," Gabriele said. "If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. The key to sweets is to have a very small portion and save them for special occasions."
Jasso said managing diabetes requires a lifestyle change and self-motivation.
"We do encourage the family (to provide support), but it’s the responsibility of the patient to take control of this disease," he said. "The patient has to take responsibility for their own care."
Seeking out a diabetes education program can make managing diabetes easier, Jasso said.
Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach offers free ongoing diabetes classes and diabetes support group meetings for children and adults. SNMDO will host its 12th annual Diabetes Awareness Expo from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Alma d’Arte Charter High School, 402 W. Court Ave. The event will feature presentations by health care professionals, vendors and opportunities to learn about new treatments and sample products. Screenings will be available. Cost is $12 per person and includes lunch. Scholarships will be offered.
The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program also offers diabetes education, online courses and a Certified Diabetes Educator directory. For more information, visit archive.diabetesnm.org.