What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus is a disease of endocrine gland called pancreas.
Diabetes can be diagnosed as per ADA criteria:
| A1C (Hemoglobin A1C) |
Fasting plasma glucose | 2hr Oral Glucose tolerance test | Random plasma glucose test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <5.7 | <100 mg/dl | <140 mg/dl | |
| Prediabetes | 5.7 to 6.4 | 100-125 mg/dl | 140-199 mg/dl | |
| Diabetes | ≥6.5 | ≥126 | ≥200 mg/dl | ≥200 mg/dl |
There are three common type of diabetes mellitus that we encounter on routine basis in the clinic and hospital:
| Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus | Your body does not make Insulin which helps metabolize the glucose |
| Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus | Your body makes Insulin, but your body is resistant to it making it ineffective in blood glucose control |
| Gestational Diabetes Mellitus | Diabetes during pregnancy |
Why should I care about Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. It is the number #1 cause of kidney failure, limb amputation and adult blindness.About 34.2 million US adults have diabetes mellitus, and 1 in 5 of them even do not know if they have a diabetes. Surprisingly 88 million people – 1in 3 have prediabetes in the United States and 90% of them do not even know that they have it.
What is hypoglycemia? Is low blood glucose of any major concern?
When blood Glucose falls below 70 or patients starts experiencing related symptoms, it is called hypoglycemia. The common symptoms for hypoglycemia are:
- Feeling shakiness
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Fast heartbeat
- Confusion
- Lack of concentration
- Pass out becomes unconscious.
Low glucose is more dangerous than high sugars in general. When you experience low sugar at home making you confused and sometimes pass out, it could be fatal if not corrected immediately. Human body does not function well below hypoglycemic level. On the other hand, if your blood sugars are in 200's, or 300's or even 400's you will have symptoms and able to seek help but not always, therefore, do not ignore either high blood glucose or low blood glucose.
Who is at high risk of getting type 2 diabetes?
The high risk patients are those who :
- Are over age 45 Children, teenagers, and younger adults can get type 2 diabetes, but it is more common in middle-aged and older people.
- Have prediabetes, which means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
- Had diabetes in pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.
- Have a family history of diabetes.
- Are overweight or have obesity.
- Are Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
- Have other conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), or depression.
- Have low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglycerides.
- Have acanthosis nigricans - dark, thick, and velvety skin around your neck or armpits!
- Are not physically active.
Does prediabetes make you more prone to diabetes mellitus?
Prediabetes is a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Being overweight, being age 45 and older and being physically less active are risk factors for prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Are there any government or community programs to prevent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?
We will refer our eligible patients to government programs that specifically work in prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus such as NDPP lifestyle change program, etc. We will continue to work with close during your participation in this prevention program.
