Managing Diabetes

A HEALTHY YOU

Managing Diabetes

Steps to Lead a Healthy, Active Life

November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes has become the fastest-growing chronic disease in the world, and it is the most expensive chronic disease in the U.S.

Insulin prices remain incredibly high due to limited competition and high production costs. Over 37 million Americans have diabetes and one in five people are not even aware they have it. Today, diabetes causes more deaths than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar (glucose). There are two main types: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, with a third form called gestational diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leads to little or no insulin production, making it impossible for the body to regulate blood glucose levels. Often diagnosed in children and young adults, people with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to manage their blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1 and typically develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. It is often associated with lifestyle factors including poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in younger populations. Unlike Type 1, it can sometimes be managed with lifestyle changes or medication alone, though insulin therapy may be required as the disease progresses.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the increased demands. Though it often resolves after childbirth, women who have gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications including heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, vision loss and other health issues. Early detection and proper management through proper diet, exercise, medication, and regular monitoring are crucial to reducing the risk of complications.

With proper care and lifestyle changes, people with diabetes can lead healthy, active lives. Learn more on how you can prevent and treat diabetes:

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

There are usually no signs when you have prediabetes, which is why 81% of people don’t know they have it. You can have prediabetes for years and not know. Article by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Get Smart About Risks and Diabetes Prevention

With early detection and awareness, you can take steps to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Article by the American Diabetes Association.

About the Author

Cynthia Conigliaro is the Sales and Marketing Director for Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm focused on employee emotional wellbeing and organizational culture analysis. For almost five years she has worked alongside the owner of OWLS to design and implement mental health related employee wellness trainings and workshops for organizations across the United States.

For almost 15 years she has had her own health and wellness coaching business. Cynthia works with individuals and groups and runs virtual and in person workshops for employees on a variety of health and wellness topics relating to both physical and mental health. She is an Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer and a Resilience and Life Coach. She has been a volunteer with the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) for the past 4 years where she sits on both the Programs Committee and the Marketing Committee. Cynthia has her Master of Social Work and her Master of Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish from College of the Holy Cross.

A HEALTHY YOU