Highlights
- Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic condition that causes high blood sugar.
- There are several types of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
- Untreated diabetes can lead to serious health complications, such as heart disease or stroke.
- Diabetes can be successfully managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and prescription medications.
- You can find the lowest price for diabetes medications with BidRx.
Diabetes doesn’t have to hold you back from living your healthiest and happiest life. Learning more about diabetes and the best treatments available can help you to get your health back on track. Use BidRx to get the lowest price for your diabetes medications.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic condition that affects more than 122 million people living in the United States. This chronic condition affects how your body turns food into energy, resulting in high blood sugar.
There are different types of diabetes. Essentially, living with diabetes means your body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively. This can result in serious health risks, including death.
Diabetes Symptoms
Common diabetes symptoms include:
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme fatigue
- Feeling very hungry, even while eating
- Frequent urination
- Sores or cuts that don’t heal
- Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet
- Vision problems or blurred vision
- Weight loss
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including the development of serious health conditions. The longer you live with diabetes, the greater your risk of complications.
Diabetes complications can include:
- Gum disease and oral health problems
- Depression
- Foot conditions
- Hearing loss
- Skin conditions, including bacterial and fungal infections
- Nephropathy (kidney problems)
- Neuropathy (nerve damage, most commonly in the legs or feet)
- Dementia
- Heart disease, heart attack, or stroke
The best way to prevent complications from diabetes is to consistently manage your condition under the care of a provider. Sticking to your treatment plan will go a long way in improving your health outcomes.
Diabetes Types, Causes, and Risk Factors
There are several types of diabetes. Your long-term management and risk for complications will vary depending on the root cause of your condition.
Diabetes Types and Causes
There Types of diabetes include:
- Type 1. This condition occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin to meet your body’s needs. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of type 1 diabetes. However, it’s thought to be autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks itself by mistake.
- Type 2. This condition occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or your cells don’t respond to the insulin your body makes. Type 2 diabetes is rooted in genetic and lifestyle factors and often runs in families.
- Gestational. This condition develops during pregnancy, when the placenta produces insulin-blocking hormones. People who are overweight during pregnancy are at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes.
- Prediabetes. When your body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it’s supposed to, you can have high blood sugar but not yet meet the criteria for diabetes. Your provider might categorize this as prediabetes and help you to form a treatment plan to keep you from developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Risk Factors
There are several overlapping risk factors for developing different types of diabetes.
Diabetes risk factors include:
- Genetics or a family history of diabetes
- Being older than 45
- Being overweight or obese
- Having a history of prediabetes or gestational diabetes
- Having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides
- Having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Diabetes disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic groups, including people with African, Hispanic or Latin American, and Asian ancestry. Research shows that culture, socioeconomic status, social structure, and racism are linked to health disparities for diabetes among these populations.
Diabetes Diagnosis
See your provider if you suspect you may have diabetes. They will assess your health history, symptoms, and risk factors. They will also need to confirm your diagnosis with a blood sugar (glucose) test.
Testing for diabetes may include the following:
- Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). This test will measure your average blood sugar level over the previous three months.
- Fasting blood sugar. This test will measure your blood sugar after you have fasted overnight.
- Glucose tolerance. This test will measure your blood sugar both before and after you drink a liquid that contains glucose. This helps to measure your body’s response to ingesting glucose.
- Random blood sugar. This test will measure your blood sugar at the exact time it’s taken, whether or not you have fasted.
Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and prescription medications. Healthy lifestyle changes and effective medication management can also help you to prevent serious health complications like heart disease. Your provider will work with you to create a comprehensive care plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication management.
Most diabetes medications are injected or taken orally. You may need to take more than one medication to control your blood sugar and to manage any related health concerns. Each medication works differently to help you manage your condition.
Common diabetes medications include:
- Insulin
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Amylin analogs
- Biguanides
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- GLP-1 agonists
- Meglitinides
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- Sulfonylureas
- Thiazolidinediones
- Antidiabetic combinations
Your provider can help you to determine the best medication for your condition. Never stop taking your prescribed diabetes medication without first consulting with your provider.
For more information about diabetes medication, please see our Reference Guide for Diabetes Medications.
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