Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
About 1 in 10 Idaho adults annually report being diagnosed with diabetes. The trend of adults in Idaho who have been diagnosed with diabetes has remained fairly stable over the past decade. About 38 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don't know they have it.
Learn how to manage your diabetes through Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services. DSMES is a patient-centered, evidence-based service that provides support, knowledge, and skills necessary to manage diabetes. Engagement in DSMES improves A1C levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle behaviors, and prevents or delays diabetes-related complications.
With a healthcare provider referral, diabetes education may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans. Check with your insurance provider to see what specific diabetes education services are covered.
What are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body stops making insulin or makes very little insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults but can develop at any age. People with type 1 diabetes take insulin every day. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Approximately 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
Learn more about type 1 diabetes from Breakthrough T1D.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or does not respond to insulin the way it should. Most people with diabetes have type 2.
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy in women with no history of diabetes. About 2-10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. The problems of gestational diabetes in pregnancy include a baby born early, a very large baby (9 pounds or more), a high chance of needing a C-section, high blood pressure (preeclampsia), and/or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after delivery. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but half of the moms go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Babies born to mothers who have gestational diabetes are more likely to grow up with unhealthy weight and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Learn more about gestational diabetes and pregnancy from the CDC.
Diabetes FAQs
You are at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:
- Have prediabetes
- Have an unhealthy weight (have overweight or obesity; BMI of 25 or higher)
- Are 45 years or older
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week
- Have a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby more than 9 pounds
You should be screened for diabetes if you:
- Are between 35 to 70 years and have an unhealthy weight
- Are a woman planning a pregnancy and have an unhealthy weight or an additional risk factor for diabetes
- Have been diagnosed with prediabetes
Learn more about screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. For women with a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes and everyone 35 years or older, test every three years if your tests are normal. Some medications may increase your risk of developing diabetes. Talk with your healthcare provider about diabetes screening if you’re unsure if certain medications you take increase your risk.
Symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Increase in hunger
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing wounds
- Weight loss (type 1)
- Different sensations in hands and feet (type 2)
You may also have diabetes and only experience mild symptoms.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose diabetes in a few different ways.
- An A1C test is a simple blood test.
- A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood sugar after not eating or drinking for at least eight hours.
- The oral glucose tolerance test measures how your body processes sugar. The test is done before and two hours after you consume a sweet drink.
- In cases of severe diabetes symptoms, diabetes is measured with a random (also called casual) plasma glucose test.
| Test | DIABETES RANGE |
|---|---|
| A1C | 6.5% or higher |
| Fasting plasma glucose | 126 mg/dl or higher |
| Oral glucose tolerance test | 200 mg/dl or higher |
| Random plasma glucose test | 200 mg/dl or higher |
If you have diabetes, have your A1C test twice a year or more often as recommended by your healthcare provider. Monitoring your A1C helps to measure if your body is responding to treatment.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Foot problems
- Gum disease
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Lower limb amputation
- Nerve damage
- Premature death
- Skin infections and disorders
- Stroke
- Vision changes
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides helpful tips for those who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes.
If you don't have insurance and need diabetes care, you can find additional resources at your local community health center. Locate the nearest community health center through the Health Resources & Services Administration or the Idaho Community Health Center Association website.
When you get sick with a cold or the flu, your body releases hormones that raise blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, making it harder to stay in your target range.
Diabetes doesn’t make you more likely to catch a cold or flu, but it does increase your chances of getting seriously sick. Planning for sick days helps you manage your diabetes and lowers your risk of complications. Create your sick day plan with the ADA.