Week 19 Diabetes

Question 1

Diabetes Basics

Answer 1

• Diabetes impacts how the body converts food into energy. blood glucose is too high
• Body either doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin or isn’t able to use insulin as well
• When cells stop responding to the insulin, excessive blood sugar stays in the bloodstream
• Unmanaged blood sugar can cause heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and a host of other health complications

Question 2

Prediabetes Basics

Answer 2

• Blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis
• 84 million US adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes, and 90% of them don’t know they have it.
• Prediabetes increases a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke

Question 3

Insulin Resistance

Answer 3

• The pancreas makes the hormone insulin, which acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells for your body to use as energy
• In diabetes and prediabetes, the cells in the body don’t respond normally to insulin, so the pancreas makes more insulin in an attempt to get cells to
respond– this is known as insulin resistance
• Eventually the pancreas is unable to keep up with this demand and the blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and diabetes

Question 4

Signs and Symptoms

Answer 4

• An individual can have prediabetes for years with no clear symptoms
• These symptoms could warrant blood sugar testing with a physician
• Urinating frequently (often at night)
• Very thirsty
• Very hungry
• Blurry vision
• Numb or tingling hands or feet
• Fatigue
• Very dry skin
• Slow wound healing
• Increase in illnesses

Question 5

Risk Factors

Answer 5

• Prediabetes, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, history of gestational diabetes (or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 lbs)
• Hypertension, unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Being overweight
• Being 45 years of age or older
• Family history
• Sedentary lifestyle active less than 3 days/week
• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Race: Black, Mexican, Indian, islander, Asian.

Question 6

Getting Tested

Answer 6

• A physician orders a blood sugar test to confirm a diagnosis
• There are 4 different blood sugar tests to use
1. Hemoglobin A1C -measures blood sugar over 3 mths
2. Fasting blood sugar
3. Oral glucose tolerance test
4. Random blood sugar test

Question 7

A1C (Hemoglobin A1C) Test

Answer 7

Test Measures average blood glucose over the past 3 months (no fasting)
•Result A1C
•Normal Less than 5.7%
•Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4%
•Diabetes 6.5% or higher

Question 8

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

Answer 8

AKA Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
• Tests fasting(8 hrs) blood glucose levels
• 99 mg/dL or lower is normal
• 100 to 125 mg/dL is indicative of prediabetes
• 126 mg/dL or higher is indicative of diabetes

Question 9

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Answer 9

• Measures blood sugar before and after drinking a glucose liquid
• Requires fasting overnight Patient then drinks the liquid and has blood sugar re-checked at 1 hour, 2 hours, and possibly 3 hours afterward.
• 140 mg/dL or less is considered normal
• 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL is indicative of prediabetic
• 200 mg/dL or higher is indicative of diabetes

Question 10

•Random Blood Sugar Test

Answer 10

AKA Random (or Casual) plasma glucose test
• Tests blood glucose levels at time of the test (no fasting)
• A blood sugar level of 200mg/dL or higher is indicative of diabetes

Question 11

Diabetes Complications

Answer 11

• Kidney disease
• Blindness
• High blood pressure
• Nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy)
• Loss of a limb (amputation)

Question 12

Preventing Diabetes

Answer 12

• Weight management
• If overweight a 5-7% loss of body weight is impactful
• Nutrition
• Emphasize plant-based foods- high
 (fiber!) 
• Reduce processed foods & dining
out
 • Emphasize regular mealtimes (no
meal skipping) 
• Limit alcohol 
• Physical activity
• Can support weight management
& insulin sensitivity 
• Cardio recommended: 30
minutes/day, 5 days/week
• Adequate sleep (7-9 hours) and
manage stress

Question 13

Type 1 Diabetes Basics

Answer 13

• caused by an AUTOIMMUNE REACTION that destroys the cells of the pancreas that makes insulin (beta cells)
• Genetic component in the expression of the disease
• Diet and lifestyle do not cause type 1 diabetes
• Type 1 diabetics need insulin shots/insulin pump daily to manage blood sugar levels
• Focus on the same lifestyle factors to support blood sugar management as you would for type 2 diabetics

Question 14

Leading Causes of Death

Answer 14

Heart disease: 659,041
Cancer: 599,601
Stroke : 150,005
Alzheimer’s disease: 121,499
Diabetes: 87,647