Your Roadmap to Understanding Diabetes Starts Now

Wherever you are on your journey with diabetes, whether regaining control of prediabetic symptoms, fighting type 1 or type 2 diabetes or helping a loved one with their diagnosis, understanding diabetes can be overwhelming.

The good news? You can still live a fulfilling life after a diabetes diagnosis.

Understanding your options can help you create an action plan and stick to it.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic, long-lasting condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. With a diabetes diagnosis, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should.

While an autoimmune reaction causes type 1 diabetes and is not preventable, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented with diet and lifestyle changes. That is why raising awareness can help educate people on possible symptoms and learn ways to reduce their risk.

Detecting Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

More than 88 million adults in the United States have prediabetes. And more than 84% of those people do not know they have prediabetes. Prediabetes is when you have higher than average blood sugar levels but are not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Roadmap to Overcoming Diabetes

You’re in the driver’s seat. Use this roadmap to help you take action today:

Caution: If you are overweight or obese, your risk for Type 2 diabetes increases.

Stop: Tell your provider if you experience these symptoms of Type 2 diabetes:

• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination

Beep Beep: Learn to prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes to leave these potential long-term risks in your rearview mirror:

• Blindness
• Heart attack
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage
• Stroke

Detour Ahead: Making these small changes can help you prevent Type 2 diabetes:

• Fuel yourself with a well-balanced diet
• Get regular physical activity
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight

Vroom Vroom: Small changes can have a significant impact, so talk to your doctor today. Your primary care provider can help you navigate your path to a life free of diabetes. Find a provider at Archbold.org/providers.