November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and with over 12% of Oklahoma’s adult population having this diagnosis, it plays a major role in our state’s well-being.
Insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, assists in removing sugar from the bloodstream and sending it to other cells to use as energy. With diabetes, the body is either not producing enough insulin to manage the blood sugar or not using the insulin available effectively, resulting in a chronic condition where blood sugar levels are too high. Over time, uncontrolled blood sugar can damage many parts of the body including the heart and blood vessels, eyes, nerves, kidneys and feet—and may eventually even lead to death. Oklahoma’s diabetes-related mortality rate is about 33.8 per 100,000, which is among the highest in the country.
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), formerly called Juvenile Diabetes, is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the pancreas and prevents it from producing insulin. Symptoms of T1D include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and blurred vision. Approximately 18,000 Oklahomans have T1D with an average of 400 new diagnoses every year. In the United States, roughly one in 30 families are affected by T1D.
One resource for these families is the non-profit foundation Breakthrough T1D, the leading global Type 1 Diabetes research and advocacy organization, with the mission of accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately cure T1D and its complications and make everyday life better. Last year, it raised nearly $450 million for research and therapy development. T1D is commonly diagnosed in childhood or in young adulthood and requires lifelong insulin management, usually through an external pump worn on the upper arm. While T1D is often tied to genetic and environmental factors, it only accounts for about 5% of diabetic cases.
The other 95% of diabetic patients have Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), when the pancreas cannot properly use the insulin produced. The prevalence of T2D increases over 25% among adults aged 65 and older, and is higher in certain ethnic groups. While the symptoms of T2D are the same as T1D, they also include tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, slow-healing sores or frequent infections. Lifestyle has a huge effect on the likelihood of a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis, with physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and an unhealthy diet among the leading causes. Type 2 Diabetes is also one of most expensive chronic conditions to manage. According to Breakthrough T1D, in 2017, diagnosed diabetes was responsible for $2.8 billion in Oklahoma medical expenses. T2D is managed by medications and possible insulin treatment, and can possibly go into remission by losing weight, managing your diet and increasing your exercise level.
It is important to have an annual physical, which will include an A1C blood test to measure your average blood sugar over the past few months. While a diabetes diagnosis can be scary, it is possible to be well managed, especially when diagnosed early.
