October 29, 2022

There's no reliable way to predict who will get diabetes, but blood tests can help to detect early signs of it.  

There are 2 types of diabetes:

1. Type 1 diabetes, causes the immune system to attack the pancreas and destroy the cells that make insulin.     
2. Type 2 diabetes, occurs when your body's cells can’t properly absorb glucose (sugar) from the foods you eat. 

Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent type of diabetes. Research suggests that a person’s likelihood of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is strongly based on genetics.  Other factors include excessive weight gain, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle that put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes. 

In the past, type 2 diabetes usually happened only in adults. But now, more kids and teens are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, due to the rapidly increasing number of overweight kids.  Kids with one or more family members with type 2 diabetes also have an increased risk for the disease, and some ethnic and racial groups are at higher risk to developing diabetes. 

How is diabetes managed:

Diabetes can be managed by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking medication if needed. Work with your healthcare provider to manage your:      

Blood sugar: A blood glucose meter or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can help you meet your blood sugar target. Your healthcare provider may also recommend regular A1c tests, oral medications (pills), insulin therapy or injectable non-insulin diabetes medications.     

Blood pressure: Lower your blood pressure by not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Your healthcare provider may recommend blood pressure medication such as beta blockers or ACE inhibitors.     

Cholesterol: Follow a meal plan low in saturated fats, trans fat, salt and sugar. Your healthcare provider may recommend statins, which are a type of drug to lower cholesterol.