Written by: Maggie Phillipps, RN, Diabetes Educator and Endocrinology Care Coordinator

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding about diabetes, its risk factors, and ways to manage or prevent this widespread condition. Over 38 million Americans live with diabetes, and in Wisconsin 423,500 adults have been diagnosed. Every year in Wisconsin around 27,000 adults are diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that obesity is linked to 53% of people diagnosed each year. Most of us know someone that has it, or you are personally living with diabetes.  With the holidays just around the corner it is important to be mindful of those living with diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar in your body. Sugar is also known as glucose, which we use as fuel or energy in your body. The food we eat breaks down into glucose which eventually travels to our blood then into the cells in your body. The pancreas is an organ that releases the hormone known as insulin. Insulin is like a key that helps to lower the sugar in our blood by allowing it to unlock the cells and letting the sugar that enters be used. Diabetes develops when we do not have enough or the ability to efficiently use insulin, or keys, to open the cells and let the sugar in, which causes an increase in blood sugar. Over time this can lead to serious health complications if you do not treat high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia.

The risk of developing diabetes depends on a few different factors. There are risk factors that you cannot change and some that you can. Risk factors that you cannot change are your family history of diabetes, age and ethnicity. Risk factors you can change are your weight, physical activity, cholesterol levels, smoking and blood pressure.

Some symptoms of diabetes include blurry vision, frequent urination, excessive thirst, tingling or numbness in your hands or feet, slow healing cuts or bruises, feeling very tired or very hungry. Diabetes is different for everyone, and they may not experience these symptoms. To diagnose diabetes a blood test called hemoglobin A1C can be done. This is a blood test that can provide an average blood glucose level over the last 3 months. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes your A1C will be between 5.7%-6.4%. Above 6.4% you are diagnosed with diabetes. A fasting blood glucose test can also be done if you have not had any food or liquids for 8 hours.  Prediabetes is a fasting blood sugar of 100-125 mg/dL and over 125 mg/dL is considered diabetes. Your primary care provider will determine how often to check your A1C, every 3 months or 6 months based on your percentage and other health factors. The goal once diagnosed with diabetes is to keep your A1C below 7% to prevent complications like stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy and eye problems like retinopathy. People living with diabetes are two times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. Controlling your blood sugar can help to decrease these complications. One strategy to keep on top of your health is to have an annual diabetes care plan. This is a checklist to make sure you complete certain visits to assess any changes that may have occurred. The core of the annual checklist includes a primary care visit with blood work twice a year, dentist visits twice a year, vision exam once per year, and a visit with your diabetes educator. Your care team can help you to manage your diabetes through education with your diet, exercise plan, blood glucose monitoring, medication management, and ways to reduce stress. Diabetes does not stay the same, and in fact, over time, how a person manages diabetes can change.

Living with diabetes can raise the risk of getting sick more than a person not living with diabetes. Getting your yearly vaccinations like flu, pneumonia, RSV, Covid, and Tdap, will help to decrease risk and complications from illness. Creating a sick day plan with your provider can help you to know what to do when you are sick. This plan can include how often you should be checking your blood sugar, medication adjustments, and what over-the-counter medications are the best option.

With the holidays quickly approaching, managing stress, diet and exercise is important. Those all can have an impact on increasing your blood sugar. Traveling, gathering with family and friends can be fun but also stressful. It is important to take time to relax, enjoy a book, bubble bath, yoga, meditation, or take a family walk. Walking for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week is one of the best ways to exercise. To work up to 30 minutes per day think about breaking it up throughout the day, for example, a 10-minute walk after each meal. Balancing your meals with 30-45 grams of carbohydrates for women, and 60-75 grams of carbohydrates per meal with protein and non-starchy vegetables. Eating three meals per day and portion control can help to manage your glucose.

Managing stress, healthy eating, exercise, and taking your prescribed medications are important to your diabetes health. If you are concerned about your risk factors, reach out to your primary care provider to start managing your health today.

If you are concerned or looking for more information, please reach out to your primary care provider. They can put in for a referral to diabetes education. For education and help with managing your diabetes please reach out to Maggie Phillipps, RN, Diabetes Educator at Western Wisconsin Health at 715-684-1278.

American Diabetes Association. Protecting Yourself with Vaccines if You Have Diabetes. SRI-ProtectYourselfwithVaccines-Patient

American Diabetes Association. Ease Diabetes Stress.

diabetes.org/health-wellness/mental-health/ease-diabetes-care-stress