EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus is a collection of disorders that alter the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is essential to your health because it provides energy to the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It is also the primary source of fuel for your brain.

Diabetes is caused by a variety of factors. However, regardless of the type of diabetes you have, it can result in an excess of sugar in your blood. Too much sugar in your bloodstream might cause major health issues.

Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are both chronic diabetic diseases. Diabetes disorders that are potentially reversible include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be categorized as diabetes, you have prediabetes. And, unless adequate actions are taken to prevent progression, prediabetes is frequently the forerunner to diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops throughout pregnancy but may disappear after the baby is born.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?

Diabetes symptoms differ depending on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, particularly those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not feel symptoms at all. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to appear quickly and are more severe.

The following are some of the indications and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

Fatigue

Irritability

Vision blur

Slow-healing wounds

Infections that occur frequently, such as gum disease, skin infections, and vaginal infections

increased thirst

Urinating frequently

severe hunger

Weight reduction that is unexplainable

Ketones in the urine (ketones are a result of muscle and fat breakdown that occurs when there is insufficient insulin available)

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, however it most commonly manifests during childhood or adolescence. Variety 2 diabetes, the most prevalent type, can occur at any age, but it is more common in those over the age of 40.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DIABETES?

To comprehend diabetes, you must first comprehend how glucose is regularly metabolized in the body.

How does insulin work?

Insulin is a hormone produced by a gland located behind and beneath the stomach (pancreas).

Insulin is secreted into the bloodstream by the pancreas.

Insulin circulates, allowing sugar into your cells.

Insulin reduces the quantity of sugar in your blood.

As your blood sugar level falls, so does insulin release from your pancreas.

The function of glucose

Glucose, a sugar, provides energy to the cells that comprise muscles and other tissues.

Food and your liver are the two main sources of glucose.

Sugar enters the bloodstream and enters cells with the help of insulin.

Your liver both stores and produces glucose.

When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven't eaten in a while, the liver converts stored glycogen into glucose to keep them within a normal range.

What are the causes of type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes has an unknown cause. What is known is that your immune system, which is generally responsible for fighting harmful bacteria or viruses, assaults and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, you have little to no insulin. Sugar accumulates in your bloodstream rather of being delivered to your cells.

Type 1 diabetes is assumed to be caused by a mix of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors, however the exact nature of those variables is unknown. Weight is not thought to play a role in type 1 diabetes.

What are the causes of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes?

In prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, your cells grow resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Sugar accumulates in your bloodstream rather of going into your cells, where it is needed for energy.

It's unclear why this happens, although genetic and environmental variables are thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is significantly connected to the development of type 2 diabetes, but not all people with type 2 are overweight.

What are the causes of gestational diabetes?

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to keep the pregnancy going. These hormones make your cells more insulin resistant.

Your pancreas normally responds by manufacturing enough additional insulin to overcome this resistance. However, your pancreas cannot always keep up. When this occurs, too little glucose enters the cells and too much remains in the circulation, resulting in gestational diabetes.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES?

Diabetes risk factors differ depending on the type of diabetes.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes

Although the actual origin of type 1 diabetes is unknown, the following variables may indicate an increased risk:

Family history: If a parent or sibling has type 1 diabetes, your risk increases.

Environmental considerations: Circumstances such as viral disease exposure are believed to play a role in type 1 diabetes.

The presence of immune system cells that cause harm (autoantibodies): Family members of persons with type 1 diabetes are occasionally examined for the presence of diabetes autoantibodies. If you have these autoantibodies, you are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. However, not everyone with these autoantibodies gets diabetes.

Geography: Type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in some countries, such as Finland and Sweden.

Risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

Researchers are still puzzled as to why some people develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes while others do not. Certain circumstances, however, clearly enhance the risk, including:

Weight: The more fatty tissue you have, the more insulin resistant your cells become.

Inactivity: The less active you are, the more vulnerable you are. Physical activity helps you lose weight, burns glucose for energy, and makes your cells more insulin sensitive.

Family history: If a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes, your risk increases.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): Polycystic ovarian syndrome, a common illness characterized by irregular menstrual periods, increased hair growth, and obesity, raises the risk of diabetes in women.

Hypertension (high blood pressure): A blood pressure of 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or above is associated with an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.

Triglyceride and cholesterol levels that are abnormal: If you have low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Triglycerides are a form of fat found in the blood. People with high triglyceride levels are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can determine your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Ethnicity or race: Although it is unknown why, some groups of people, including Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian Americans, are at a higher risk.

Age: As you become older, your risk increases. This could be because as you become older, you tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass, and gain weight. However, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Gestational diabetes: If you had gestational diabetes while pregnant, your chances of getting prediabetes and type 2 diabetes increased. You are also at risk of type 2 diabetes if you give birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms).

Risks factors for gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant women. Some women are more vulnerable than others. The following are risk factors for gestational diabetes:

Age: Women above the age of 25 are at a higher risk.

Personal or family history: If you have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, or if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has type 2 diabetes, your risk increases. You're also more likely to have gestational diabetes in a prior pregnancy, have a very large baby, or have an unexplained loss.

Weight: Being overweight prior to pregnancy raises your risk.

Ethnicity or race: Women who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Asian American are more prone to develop gestational diabetes for unknown causes.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES?

Diabetes problems develop progressively over time. The longer you have diabetes and the less well your blood sugar is regulated, the greater the chance of complications. Diabetes complications might eventually be crippling or even fatal. Complications could include:

Cardiovascular disease: Diabetes significantly raises the risk of a variety of cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease with chest discomfort (angina), heart attack, stroke, and arterial narrowing (atherosclerosis). Diabetes increases your risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

Nerve damage (neuropathy): Excess sugar can cause damage to the walls of the tiny blood arteries (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, particularly in your legs. This might produce tingling, numbness, burning, or pain, which commonly starts at the tips of the toes or fingers and extends upward.

If left untreated, you may lose all feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the digestive nerves might result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. It may cause erectile dysfunction in men.

Skin problems: Diabetes can make you more prone to skin disorders such as bacterial and fungal infections.

Impaired hearing: Diabetes patients are more likely to have hearing issues.

Alzheimer's disease: Diabetes type 2 may raise the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The worse your blood sugar control looks to be, the higher the danger appears to be. Although there are suggestions about how these conditions are related, none of them have been proven.

Depression: Depression symptoms are common in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetes control might be hampered by depression.

Kidney damage (nephropathy): Millions of small blood artery clusters (glomeruli) in the kidneys filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can wreak havoc on this sensitive filtering mechanism. Severe kidney damage can result in renal failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, necessitating dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Retinopathy (eye damage): Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy), which can result in blindness. Diabetes also raises the risk of developing other major vision problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Foot damage: Foot nerve damage or inadequate blood supply to the feet raises the risk of several foot problems. Cuts and blisters, if left untreated, can develop dangerous infections that often heal poorly. These infections may eventually need toe, foot, or limb amputation.

Complications of prediabetes

Prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes.

Complications of gestational diabetes

The majority of mothers with gestational diabetes have healthy kids. Untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels, on the other hand, might pose difficulties for you and your kid.

As a result of gestational diabetes, your baby may have complications such as:

Excessive growth: Extra glucose can cross the placenta, causing your baby's pancreas to produce more insulin. This can result in your baby becoming excessively big (macrosomia). Large babies are more likely to necessitate a C-section.

Hypoglycemia: Because their mothers' insulin production is high, newborns born to moms with gestational diabetes may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shortly after birth. Prompt feedings and, in certain cases, intravenous glucose solutions can help the baby's blood sugar levels return to normal.

Later-life type 2 diabetes: Babies born to moms who have gestational diabetes are more likely to acquire obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

Death: Untreated gestational diabetes can cause a baby's death before or soon after birth.

Complications in the mother can also emerge as a result of gestational diabetes, and these include:

Preeclampsia: High blood pressure, extra protein in the urine, and swelling in the legs and feet are all symptoms of this illness. Preeclampsia can cause significant or even fatal consequences for both the mother and the baby.

Subsequent gestational diabetes: If you have gestational diabetes in one pregnancy, you are more likely to have it again in the next. As you become older, you're also more prone to get diabetes - often type 2 diabetes.

HOW IS DIABETES DIAGNOSED?

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can arise unexpectedly and are frequently the basis for testing blood sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has established screening criteria since signs of other types of diabetes and prediabetes appear gradually or may not be apparent. The American Diabetes Association recommends that the following people be tested for diabetes:

Anyone over the age of 25 with a BMI greater than 25 (23 for Asian Americans) and additional risk factors such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome or heart disease, and a close relative with diabetes.

Anyone above the age of 45 should have a blood sugar check, and if the results are normal, they should be screened every three years after that.

Women who have had gestational diabetes should get a diabetes screening every three years.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with prediabetes should be tested annually.

Diabetes tests for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as prediabetes tests

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test: This non-fasting blood test determines your average blood sugar level over the previous two to three months. It calculates the amount of blood sugar that is bound to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

The more sugar connected hemoglobin you have, the higher your blood sugar levels. Diabetes is diagnosed when your A1C result is 6.5 percent or above on two different tests. An A1C of 5.7 to 6.4 percent implies prediabetes. A value of less than 5.7 is deemed normal.

If the A1C test results are inconsistent, the test is unavailable, or you have certain factors that can make the A1C test erroneous — such as being pregnant or having an uncommon kind of hemoglobin (known as a hemoglobin variation) — your doctor may perform the following tests to diagnose diabetes:

Random blood sugar test: A random blood sample will be collected. A blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) — 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — or greater, regardless of when you last ate, indicates diabetes.

Fasting blood sugar test: Following an overnight fast, a blood sample will be collected. Fasting blood sugar levels of less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) are considered normal. Prediabetes is defined as fasting blood sugar levels ranging from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L). Diabetes is diagnosed when your blood sugar level is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or greater on two different tests.

Oral glucose tolerance test: You fast overnight for this test, and your fasting blood sugar level is measured. Then you drink a sugary liquid and your blood sugar levels are checked every two hours for the next two hours.

Normal blood sugar levels are fewer than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L). After two hours, a result of more than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) indicates diabetes. A blood sugar level of 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L to 11.0 mmol/L) suggests prediabetes.

If you have type 1 diabetes, your urine will be examined for the presence of a byproduct created when muscle and fat tissue are used for energy because the body lacks enough insulin to use the available glucose (ketones). Your doctor will also most likely do a test to discover if you have autoantibodies, which are damaging immune system cells connected with type 1 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes tests

Early in your pregnancy, your doctor will most likely assess your risk factors for gestational diabetes:

If you are at high risk of gestational diabetes, such as if you were obese at the outset of your pregnancy, had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, or had a diabetic mother, father, brother, or child, your doctor may test for diabetes during your first prenatal visit.

If you are at average risk of gestational diabetes, you will most likely have a screening test for gestational diabetes during your second trimester, which is usually between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

The following screening tests may be used by your doctor:

Initial glucose challenge test: The glucose challenge test will begin with you drinking a syrupy glucose solution. After one hour, you'll undergo a blood test to determine your blood sugar level. On a glucose challenge test, a blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normally considered normal, though this may vary depending on the clinic or lab.

If your blood sugar level is greater than normal, it simply means you are more likely to develop gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your doctor will request a follow-up test.

Follow-up glucose tolerance testing: You will be asked to fast overnight for the follow-up test, after which your fasting blood sugar level will be measured. Then you'll drink another sweet solution, this time with a higher percentage of glucose, and your blood sugar level will be measured every hour for three hours.

You will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes if at least two of your blood sugar readings are greater than the normal values indicated for each of the three hours of the test.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR DIABETES?

Blood sugar monitoring, insulin, and oral medicines may all be used to treat diabetes, depending on the type. Eating a good diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in regular physical activity are all key variables in diabetes management.

Diabetes treatments for all types

Maintaining a healthy weight with a good diet and activity plan is an important element of treating diabetes — and your overall health:

Eating healthy: Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a diabetes diet. You'll need to eat more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains — foods high in nutrition and fiber but low in fat and calories — and limit your intake of saturated fats, processed carbohydrates, and sweets. In fact, it is the finest diet for the entire family. Sugary meals are acceptable on occasion, as long as they are included in your meal plan.

However, determining what and how much to eat can be difficult. A certified dietician can assist you in developing a meal plan that is tailored to your specific health objectives, food preferences, and lifestyle. Carbohydrate counting is likely, especially if you have type 1 diabetes or require insulin as part of your therapy.

Physical activity: Diabetes patients, like everyone else, require frequent aerobic exercise. Exercise decreases blood sugar levels by transporting sugar into cells, where it is used for energy. Exercise also improves insulin sensitivity, which means your body requires less insulin to deliver sugar to your cells.

Obtain permission from your doctor to exercise. Then select activities that you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or riding. The most important thing is to incorporate physical activity into your everyday routine.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week on most days of the week. Bouts of activity might last as little as 10 minutes and occur three times per day. If you haven't been active in a while, begin slowly and gradually build up. It's also a good idea to avoid sitting for too long – if you've been sitting for more than 30 minutes, stand up and exercise.

Diabetes treatments for both type 1 and type 2

Insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump, frequent blood sugar checks, and carbohydrate counting are all part of type 1 diabetes treatment. Treatment for type 2 diabetes largely consists of lifestyle adjustments, blood sugar monitoring, and diabetic medicines, insulin, or both.

Keeping track of your blood sugar: Depending on your treatment plan, you may need to check and report your blood sugar up to four times a day, or more frequently if you're on insulin. Only careful monitoring will ensure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range. People with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin tend to monitor their blood sugar levels substantially less regularly.

People who take insulin therapy may also choose to use a continuous glucose monitor to check their blood sugar levels. Although this technology has not totally replaced the glucose meter, it can greatly reduce the number of fingersticks required to check blood sugar and provide valuable information regarding blood sugar patterns.

Even with proper treatment, blood sugar levels can fluctuate unexpectedly. With the assistance of your diabetes care team, you will understand how your blood sugar levels change in response to food, physical exercise, medications, illness, alcohol, stress — and, for women, hormonal swings.

In addition to daily blood sugar monitoring, your doctor will most likely recommend A1C testing to determine your average blood sugar level over the previous two to three months.

A1C testing, as opposed to repeated daily blood sugar tests, reflects how effectively your diabetes treatment plan is performing overall. An high A1C level may indicate that you should alter your oral medicine, insulin regimen, or diet plan.

Your target A1C goal may differ based on your age and other factors such as any other medical disorders you may have. However, the American Diabetes Association advises an A1C of less than 7% for the majority of diabetics. Inquire with your doctor about your A1C aim.

Insulin: Insulin therapy is required for people with type 1 diabetes to survive. Many patients who have type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes require insulin therapy as well.

There are several different forms of insulin, including short-acting (standard insulin), rapid-acting insulin, long-acting insulin, and intermediate alternatives. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of insulin types to take throughout the day and night, depending on your needs.

Because stomach enzymes interfere with insulin's effect, insulin cannot be administered orally to reduce blood sugar. Insulin is commonly injected with a thin needle and syringe or an insulin pen, which resembles a huge ink pen.

An insulin pump is another possibility. The pump is a little gadget the size of a small telephone that is worn on the outside of your body. A tube connects the insulin reservoir to a catheter implanted under the skin of your abdomen.

There is also a wireless tubeless pump available. An insulin pump is programmed to dispense particular doses of insulin. It can be programmed to deliver more or less insulin based on the meals, exercise level, and blood sugar level.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first artificial pancreas for persons with type 1 diabetes aged 14 and up in September 2016. In December 2019, a second artificial pancreas was authorized. Since then, systems for children over the age of two have been approved.

Closed-loop insulin delivery is another term for an artificial pancreas. The implanted gadget connects an insulin pump to a continuous glucose monitor, which checks blood sugar levels every five minutes. When the monitor shows that insulin is required, the device automatically provides the appropriate dosage.

There are currently more artificial pancreas (closed loop) systems in clinical testing.

Oral or other medications: Other oral or injectable drugs may be prescribed as well. Certain diabetes treatments cause your pancreas to generate and release more insulin. Others prevent your liver from producing and releasing glucose, requiring less insulin to carry sugar into your cells.

Others prevent stomach or intestinal enzymes from breaking down carbohydrates or make your tissues more responsive to insulin. Metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, and other similar medications) is usually the first medicine administered for type 2 diabetes.

Another type of drug known as SGLT2 inhibitors could be employed. They function by preventing sugar from being reabsorbed by the kidneys. The sugar is instead eliminated in the urine.

Transplantation: A pancreas transplant may be an option for some persons with type 1 diabetes. Islet transplants are also being researched. You would no longer require insulin medication if the pancreatic transplant was successful.

However, transplants are not always effective — and these surgeries are fraught with danger. To prevent organ rejection, you must take immunosuppressive medicines for the rest of your life. Because these medicines can have major side effects, transplants are often reserved for persons whose diabetes cannot be controlled or who also require a kidney transplant.

Bariatric surgery: Although it is not expressly considered a type 2 diabetes treatment, patients with type 2 diabetes who are obese and have a BMI greater than 35 may benefit from this sort of surgery. Blood sugar levels in those who have had gastric bypass surgery have significantly improved. However, the long-term hazards and benefits of this surgery for type 2 diabetes remain unknown.

Gestational diabetes treatment

Keeping your blood sugar under control is critical to keeping your baby healthy and preventing difficulties during birth. In addition to eating a balanced diet and exercising, your treatment plan may involve blood sugar monitoring and, in some situations, the use of insulin or oral medicines.

During labor, your doctor will also monitor your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar rises, your baby may produce a large amount of insulin, which might result in low blood sugar shortly after birth.

Prediabetes treatment

If you have prediabetes, a healthy lifestyle can help you return your blood sugar levels to normal or keep them from rising to the levels found in type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight with exercise and proper nutrition might be beneficial. Exercising at least 150 minutes per week and decreasing roughly 7% of your body weight may help you avoid or postpone type 2 diabetes.

If you're at high risk of diabetes, such as if your prediabetes is worsening or if you have cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, drugs like metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, and others) may be a possibility.

In other circumstances, drugs to lower cholesterol — particularly statins — and high blood pressure are required. If you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may recommend low-dose aspirin therapy to help prevent it. Healthy lifestyle choices, on the other hand, remain critical.

TROUBLE SIGNS IN ANY TYPE OF DIABETES

Because so many factors can affect your blood sugar, problems may occur that necessitate rapid attention, such as:

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): Many factors might cause your blood sugar to rise, including eating too much, being ill, or not taking enough glucose-lowering medicine. Check your blood sugar level as advised by your doctor, and keep an eye out for high blood sugar symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, lethargy, and nausea. If you have hyperglycemia, you will need to change your diet, medications, or both.

Increased urine ketones (diabetic ketoacidosis): When your cells lack energy, your body may begin to break down fat. This results in the formation of poisonous acids known as ketones. Keep an eye out for symptoms such as lack of appetite, weakness, vomiting, fever, stomach pain, and a pleasant, fruity breath.

An over-the-counter ketones test kit can be used to check your urine for excess ketones. Consult your doctor or seek emergency care if you have an excess of ketones in your urine. People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop this problem.

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome: A blood sugar level of more than 600 mg/dL (33.3 mmol/L), dry mouth, excessive thirst, fever, lethargy, confusion, visual loss, and hallucinations are all signs and symptoms of this potentially fatal illness. Hyperosmolar syndrome is caused by extremely high blood sugar levels, which cause the blood to thicken and syrupy.

It occurs in persons with type 2 diabetes and is frequently preceded by an illness. If you experience signs or symptoms of this disorder, call your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Low blood sugar occurs when your blood sugar level falls below your goal range (hypoglycemia). If you use blood sugar-lowering medicine, such as insulin, your blood sugar level can drop for a variety of reasons, including skipping a meal and engaging in more physical activity than usual. Low blood sugar can also occur if you take too much insulin or too much of a glucose-lowering medicine that increases pancreatic insulin secretion.

Sweating, shakiness, weakness, hunger, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, heart palpitations, irritability, slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion, fainting, and seizures are all signs and symptoms of low blood sugar. Low blood sugar is treated with carbohydrates that are easily absorbed, such as fruit juice or glucose pills.

HOME REMEDIES FOR DIABETES

Diabetes is a dangerous condition. Following your diabetes treatment plan necessitates a 24-hour commitment. Diabetes can be managed carefully to lower the chance of serious, even life-threatening complications.

Make a commitment to controlling your diabetes: Learn everything you can about diabetes. Create a relationship with a diabetes educator and ask your diabetes treatment team for assistance when needed.

Maintain a healthy weight by eating healthful foods: If you are overweight, decreasing just 5% of your body weight will improve blood sugar control if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and legumes, as well as little saturated fat.

Include physical activity in your everyday routine: Regular exercise can help avoid prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as help diabetics maintain better blood sugar control. Most days of the week, 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, is recommended. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity.

Spending less time sitting stationary is also a good idea. When you're awake, try to get up and move around for a few minutes every 30 minutes or so.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR TYPE 1 AND 2 DIABETES

Furthermore, if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes:

Self-identify: Wear a diabetic identification badge or bracelet. Keep a glucagon kit on hand in case of a low blood sugar emergency, and make sure your friends and family know how to use it.

Schedule a yearly physical exam as well as regular eye exams: Diabetes checkups are not intended to substitute yearly physicals or normal eye exams. During the physical, your doctor will look for diabetic complications as well as other medical issues. Your eye doctor will look for evidence of retinal degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Maintain your vaccination records: High blood sugar levels can compromise your immune system. Get a flu shot every year, and your doctor may also advise you to get a pneumonia vaccine. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and have not previously been vaccinated against hepatitis B, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presently advises hepatitis B immunization.

The most recent CDC recommendations recommend getting vaccinated as soon as feasible after being diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If you are 60 or older, have diabetes, and have not previously had the vaccine, consult your doctor to see if it is appropriate for you.

Drink alcohol responsibly: Depending on how much you drink and if you eat at the same time, alcohol can create either high or low blood sugar. If you must drink, do it in moderation — one drink per day for women, two drinks per day for males — and always with food.

Include the carbs from any alcohol you consume in your daily carbohydrate count. Also, before going to bed, check your blood sugar levels.

Stress should be taken seriously: Hormones produced by your body in response to extended stress may prevent insulin from working correctly, raising your blood sugar and stressing you out even more. Set yourself limitations and prioritize your tasks. Practice relaxing techniques. Also, get lots of rest.

Keep an eye on your feet: Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water. Dry them gently, paying specific attention to the areas between the toes. Lotion can be used to moisturize, but not between the toes. Every day, inspect your feet for blisters, cuts, sores, redness, or swelling. If you have a sore or other foot ailment that isn't healing on its own, see your doctor.

Maintain a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol level: Eating healthy foods and exercising on a daily basis can help control high blood pressure and cholesterol. Medication may also be required.

Take good care of your teeth: Diabetes can make you more prone to dangerous gum infections. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended. Schedule frequent dental checkups if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If your gums bleed, appear red or swollen, see your dentist straight once.

If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, consult your doctor for assistance in quitting: Smoking raises your chances of developing diabetes problems. According to the American Diabetes Association, smokers with diabetes are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than nonsmokers with diabetes. Speak with your doctor about quitting smoking or quitting using other types of tobacco.