American Diabetes Awareness Month

November marks American Diabetes Awareness Month, highlighting one of the world’s fastest-growing chronic diseases. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results from impaired insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both. Poor management of chronically elevated blood glucose levels can lead to organ damage and life-threatening complications, including neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease. As the incidence is rapidly increasing and is estimated to affect over 600 million adults by 2040, it is important that we understand how to prevent and manage diabetes to reduce the burden of disease. 1

 

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus accounts for up to 10% of diabetes diagnoses and is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the beta cells and renders them unable to produce insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot be transported into cells and remains in the bloodstream, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia).

 

Common signs of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus include excessive thirst, excessive hunger, excessive urination or bed-wetting in children, fatigue, weight loss, blurry vision, and poor healing. Some patients with undiagnosed or unmanaged DM1 can develop a condition called ketoacidosis due to a lack of glucose in cells, resulting in the accumulation of acidic ketones in the bloodstream. Often, doctors diagnose DM1 after a child experiences a ketoacidosis event.

Researchers suspect that a combination of environmental, infectious, and genetic factors contribute to disease development. While historically doctors more commonly diagnosed DM1 in childhood, it can develop at any time. 1

 

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus accounts for around 90% of diabetes diagnoses and involves insulin resistance. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, insulin becomes ineffective, so the pancreas produces more insulin to help maintain a stable glucose balance. Over time, as insulin resistance progresses, the pancreas produces less insulin, and blood glucose levels eventually rise because insulin is insufficient to adequately counter them, resulting in hyperglycemia.

Common signs of DM2 include frequent hunger, thirst, and urination, as well as fatigue. Over time, visual disturbances, poor wound healing, and dark patches of skin around the neck and armpits can develop.

Doctors typically diagnose DM2 in adults over the age of 45, but with rising obesity, diets high in ultra-processed foods, and sedentary lifestyles, more adults are developing DM2 at earlier ages. 1

 

When doctors first observe hyperglycemia during pregnancy, they diagnose this as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Doctors typically diagnose it in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters, and researchers estimate it affects around 7% of all pregnancies. If a mother receives a diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, both she and her offspring have an increased risk of developing DM2 later in life. Older age, obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and family history of diabetes mellitus all increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. 1

 

In my training to become a naturopathic doctor, my instructors emphasized that disease prevention is a key component of overall health and wellness. Sometimes when patients get to my office, they have already been diagnosed with either diabetes mellitus or pre-diabetes. No matter if someone is seeking support for managing a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or looking to prevent the development of diabetes mellitus, there are multiple avenues of support to incorporate.

 

What you eat plays an important role in managing blood glucose levels. A diet high in ultra-processed, carbohydrate-rich foods can lead to greater blood glucose fluctuations because it results in a rapid rise in glucose, followed by a rapid rise in insulin to move that glucose into the tissues. Focusing on incorporating protein into each meal can help support more stable blood glucose levels, and incorporating fiber with each meal can also help, as it slows the release of glucose for a more even-keeled response.

 

Check out this blog to learn more about specific foods to support healthy blood glucose levels.

Daily movement is another essential part of supporting someone with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Physical movement and activity use a non-insulin-dependent pathway to increase the ability of blood glucose to enter muscles, resulting in lower circulating glucose levels. Studies have shown that long-term regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and reduces insulin resistance by upregulating GLUT4 transporters and increasing skeletal muscle responsiveness to insulin. Focusing on resistance training can help ensure a healthy muscle mass, which will ultimately help improve overall glucose control. 2

 

If your doctor has diagnosed you with diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes, or if you have an increased risk of developing disease, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors for a comprehensive discussion about how to mitigate your risk and find ways to improve your metabolic health for optimal blood glucose regulation.