¿Qué es la diabetes?

Your body turns food into energy by breaking it down into sugar and releasing it into your bloodstream. High blood sugar levels trigger the pancreas to release insulin, which directs the excess sugar into your body’s cells for later use.

If your body doesn’t make insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or your body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should (Type 2 diabetes), too much sugar (glucose) stays in the bloodstream. Over time, this excess sugar can lead to heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.

There is no cure for diabetes, but losing weight and eating healthy food can help, along with medication and careful management of your disease.

Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels gives you the information you need to adjust your nutrition therapy, lifestyle and medications to keep the levels within a target range. Working with your provider and diabetes care team, you can manage your diabetes, prevent complications and live a long and healthy life.

More people with diabetes or  endocrine or hormonal conditions in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Community Medical Associates – Endocrinology and Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute for their care than any other health system in the area. Patients can benefit from access to a broad network of providers, support services, educators and classes.

¿Qué es la prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition in which the amount of sugar in your blood is higher than normal, but not as high as in Type 2 diabetes. Often prediabetes can be managed with nutrition therapy and lifestyle changes alone. If you have prediabetes, you may be at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to other health issues and complications if left untreated. Working with your provider and diabetes care team, you can learn how to improve your health through small, consistent changes.

Diabetes tipo 1

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot make enough of its own insulin. People with Type 1 Diabetes need to inject insulin daily or use a continuous infusion pump to keep their blood sugars within a normal range. Type 1 diabetes treatment includes managing blood sugars with nutrition therapy, lifestyle and medication.

Diabetes tipo 2

When the body produces insulin, but doesn’t use it properly, the condition is Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common form of diabetes. A variety of nutrition therapies, lifestyle modifications and medications can help manage Type 2 diabetes.

Factores de riesgo de la diabetes tipo 2

You may be at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes if you:

• Tiene 45 años o más.
• Have excess weight or experience a rapid change in weight
• Tiene un padre o hermano con diabetes.
• Are African American, Hispanic or Latino American, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander
• Tuvo diabetes durante el embarazo (diabetes gestacional).
• Tuvo un bebé que pesó más de 9 libras al nacer.
• Tiene presión arterial alta o colesterol.
• Hace ejercicio menos de tres veces por semana.
• Tiene una circunferencia de cintura de más de 30 pulgadas.

Síntomas de la diabetes tipo 2

Muchas personas con diabetes no saben que tienen la enfermedad. Some Type 2 diabetes symptoms include:

• Tener mucha sed o mucha hambre.
• Sentirse cansado sin motivo.
• Urinating more than usual
• Perder peso sin motivo.
• Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
• Trouble seeing, including blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet

No todas las personas que tienen diabetes tienen estos signos. Si tiene alguno de estos signos o cree que puede estar en riesgo, hable con el médico.

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Siga estos pasos para prevenir o retrasar la diabetes tipo 2:

• Healthy eating habits will help you maintain your weight, lower your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol.
• Get active with 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking fast or biking. El médico puede ayudarle a elegir las mejores actividades para usted.
• Controle su peso. If you are overweight or obese, losing 5% to 7% of your body weight can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes. If you weigh 200 pounds, 7% of your body weight is 14 pounds.

Contrólese la presión arterial y el colesterol

A partir de los 18 años, contrólese la presión arterial al menos una vez cada dos años. Es importante controlarse la presión arterial con frecuencia, especialmente si tiene más de 40 años. Hable con un médico sobre cómo controlar el colesterol. La mayoría de los hombres necesita controlarse el colesterol al menos una vez cada cinco años. Las mujeres con riesgo de cardiopatías deben controlarse el colesterol cada cinco años.