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Risk Factors
Complications
While genes pay a role, external factors contribute greatly to the development of diabetes and risk of complications. These include:
If you have diabetes, your doctor will monitor you closely to help keep the condition under control. You may be prescribed oral medicine and/or insulin, a medicine to regulate your blood sugar levels. There are different types of insulin medicine that work at different speeds and last for different lengths of time. Your doctor will work with you to create a plan for what type(s) of insulin you need, and when and how often to take it.
There is no cure for diabetes, but you can do things to control your symptoms and prevent harmful blood glucose spikes.
Monitor your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar levels throughout the day – usually before eating, one to two hours after a meal, and before bed.
Take your medicine. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking your medicine. Learn what each medicine does and when you should take it. Tell your doctor about any other medicine you take, including over-the-counter medicine.
Schedule regular doctor’s visits. Regular appointments with your doctors can help you control your symptoms and prevent serious complications.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Limit foods high in starch and sugar, and eat plenty of fiber. Getting regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight will also help keep your blood glucose levels in control.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). There is no cure for diabetes, but monitoring your blood sugar levels, taking medicine and adopting a healthy lifestyle can help keep your symptoms under control.
Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when your pancreas can’t make enough insulin, or your body is resistant to the insulin that’s being made. Insulin is an important hormone that keeps the amount of sugar in your blood under control. Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart, among other areas.
Treatment
Managing Diabetes
If diabetes is not controlled, it can lead to many serious health problems. These include:
Types of Diabetes
Facts About Diabetes
About 38 million people in the United States have diabetes.
20% of people who have diabetes don’t know that they have it.
More than one-third of adults in the United States have prediabetes.
Diabetes is the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Additional Resources
Learn more about Health Equity
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational.
Type 1 diabetes: Happens when an autoimmune reaction attacks the cells in your pancreas and stops it from making insulin.
Type 2 diabetes: Happens when your pancreas can’t make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes doesn’t work well.
Gestational diabetes: Is a form diabetes that happens during pregnancy. It usually goes away after pregnancy.
Feeling thirsty
Blurred vision
Urinating more often
Feeling tired
Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
Slow-healing cuts and sores
Being overweight
Physical inactivity
Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Types of Diabetes
Risk Factors
Complications
Treatment
Managing Diabetes
Facts About Diabetes
Stroke
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Blindness
Nerve damage
Feet and skin infections
Facts on Health Care Disparities
Cultural Factors:
Beliefs and Practices can influence how people see and manage diabetes. For example, some cultures may rely on traditional home remedies and medical treatments.
Language Barriers: Limited language proficiency may make it harder to communicate with health care providers, which can impact diabetes management. Your health plan has resources for you to get help in your language. Call the number of the back of your member ID card for more information.
Cultural Stigma: Stigma associated with chronic diseases may affect a person’s willingness to get help or follow treatment plans.
Race and Ethnicity:
Prevalence Disparities: African-American and Hispanic populations have a 50% higher risk than those in other groups.
Genetics: Studies show that African Americans and Mexican Americans have increased insulin resistance compared to White Americans.
Socioeconomic Status:
Income: Those who earn less than $80,000 per year are three times more likely to have diabetes.
Education: Those who have not completed high school are nearly two times more likely to have diabetes than those who have a higher degree than high school.
Health Literacy: Limited health literacy – associated with lower economic status – can affect someone’s ability to understand and follow treatment plans.
Health Care: Disparities in access to quality health care services may impact the timely diagnosis and management of diabetes in minority populations.
Geographic and Environmental Factors:
Access: 20% of Americans with diabetes don’t have regular access to healthy foods.
Region: Over the last decade, the rate of diabetes has significantly increased in the US (CDC).
Neighborhood: Those living in underserved neighborhoods generally have higher rates of smoking, lower rates of physical activity, and poorer blood pressure control – all of which can contribute to diabetes and its complications.
Facts on Health Care Disparities
Diabetes and Health Disparities
Diabetes and Health Disparities
Racial and ethnic:
Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults in the U.S. by race/ethnicity:
American Indian or Alaska Native – 13.6%
African American – 12.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 11.7%
Asian – 9.1%
Hispanic – 13%
White – 6.9%
African Americans are twice as likely as White Americans to die from diabetes.
Obesity is one of the biggest contributors to developing type 2 diabetes. Obesity affects minority groups at disproportionate levels.
Resources and Suppport
Horizon’s Care Management Programs
A Care Manager can help you manage chronic conditions like diabetes by:
Helping you coordinate services with your doctors, pharmacies and home care agencies
Scheduling doctor appointments, transportation and translation services
Providing education to help you manage your diabetes
Being there for you to answer any questions
Providing resources for housing, behavioral health services, food, finance and education
Resources and Suppport
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
The ADA is a network of health care professionals, volunteers, caregivers and staff dedicated to finding new ways to treat and eventually cure diabetes.
Website: Diabetes Research, Education, Advocacy | ADA
JDRF
JDRF is focused on research to help cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Website: JDRF - Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes Research, Advocacy, and Support
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is the national Department of Health and Human Services’ public health service organization.
Website: Diabetes Basics | CDC
Medline Plus – National Institutes of Health
Medline Plus is a service of the National Library of Medicine focused on providing reliable information and data.
Website: Diabetes | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes | MedlinePlus
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization leads global health equity efforts.
Website: Diabetes
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Diabetes Quick Facts | Basics | Diabetes | CDC; National Diabetes Statistics Report | Diabetes | CDC
American Diabetes Association: Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes: A Scientific Review | Diabetes Care | American Diabetes Association; Health Equity | ADA
National Institutes of Health: Association between Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes Mellitus: The National Socioeconomics Survey, 2010 and 2012 - PMC; Bridging Gaps and Understanding Disparities in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus to Improve Perinatal Outcomes - PMC
Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health: Diabetes and African Americans | Office of Minority Health
Research shows that diabetes affects minority and low-income populations disproportionately. These groups generally have higher rates of diabetes, and are more likely to have complications.
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Access to Care:
More than one third of Hispanic/Latino people in the U.S. do not have a regular doctor, so they are more likely to go to the Emergency Room for diabetes management.
Maternal and Child Health
Minority women are nearly twice as likely to have gestational diabetes than White women.
African American women with gestational diabetes have higher rates of primary caesarian delivery and are more likely to have a miscarriage or stillbirth than White women with gestational diabetes.