Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly regulate blood glucose levels (CDC, 2023). Currently, 37 million Americans are already diagnosed with diabetes, and it costs the country $327 billion annually (CDC, 2023).

Diabetes is a serious and costly health condition that requires careful management. November is Diabetes Awareness Month and it is a crucial time to spread awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, healthy lifestyle and effective management strategies.

There are different types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes occurs because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 usually occurs in childhood and those affected are often thin and underweight.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, this typically occurs in adulthood and most individuals are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type.

Gestational diabetesis a type of diabetes with onset during pregnancy. Sometimes those with gestational diabetes have no symptoms at all (ADA, 2023). Most of the time gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, those diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of getting diabetes later in life (NIH, 2023).

Lifestyle and Treatment

Management of diabetes typically involves a combination of medication, lifestyle modifications and regularly monitoring blood glucose levels. Other key strategies in the management of diabetes are maintaining a healthy diet and weight and getting regular exercise. It is also important that individuals with diabetes work closely with their health care provider to develop a comprehensive management planned tailored to their specific needs. Regular check ups and monitoring can prevent complication

Devices and Treatment

A major portion of the management of diabetes is monitoring blood sugar levels. In the past, poking the finger to get a drop of blood was one of the only ways to monitor. These pokes are painful and over time, a lot of patients simply stop checking because of the burden. However new technologies are transforming the management of diabetes. One of the biggest advancements in diabetes care is the use of continuous glucose monitoring systems.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are small devices that are used to monitor a person’s glucose levels in real time. It consists of a small sensor that is inserted under the skin, usually in the abdomen, and a transmitter sends data wirelessly to a monitoring device or smartphone. CGMs can also communicate directly to insulin pumps to provide automated insulin delivery (ADA, 2023). These devices typically get changed every 7 to 14 days.

Conclusion

November is the time to gear up for Diabetes Awareness Month. It is a vital time to spread awareness about the importance of early diagnoses, healthy lifestyle choices and effective management strategies. Additionally, it is important for those individuals already diagnosed with diabetes to work closely with their healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive managements plans, schedule regular check-ups and monitor labs and glucose levels to prevent complications and ensure that their diabetes is well managed.

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