Diabetes Warning Risks
Green. Yellow. Red. These colors definitely communicate a certain message for drivers heading to and from destinations during the day. During the month of November, American Diabetes Month, think about these colors as it relates to normal, prediabetes and diabetes states of living for millions of Americans.
Green - Normal
A green light means you are cruising, but still in control. From blood pressure to cholesterol to blood sugar, you know your numbers and they are good. Your efforts should be focused on maintaining routine preventive health measures. Your healthcare provider is satisfied with your health screening results and reinforces healthy lifestyle, age-appropriate screenings (i.e. colonoscopy, mammogram) and immunizations. You are in the driver�s seat and the intersection ahead is clear.
Yellow � Prediabetes
Warning! Imagine that prediabetes is a yellow stoplight, warning you or a loved one that you may be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Prediabetes is the body�s yellow signal encouraging the driver to survey his or her surroundings and review lifestyle choices. In the warning stage, blood sugar control is borderline. It is likely that there are no other bells, whistles or symptoms sounding to let you know prediabetes is present. Within 10 years of becoming prediabetic, it is highly probable that prediabetes will turn into diabetes.
Individuals with risk factors should be particularly cautious of transitioning into the yellow phase. Weight, waist size, inactivity, age, family history, rest, history of conditions such as gestational diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol are all risk factors increasing the likelihood of prediabetes and diabetes.
Screening for diabetes is important. Overweight individuals with one or more risk factors should be screened every three years and all adults should start to be screened at age 45 even in the absence of risk factors.
Lifestyle modification such as diet and exercise, risk factor management and many times medication are brought in during this phase. Healthy behavior modification slows and may reverse the crossover from yellow to red and prevents the damage that high blood sugar may have long-term on heart, kidneys and other vital organs of the body.
Red - Diabetes
The red light resembles diabetes. Increased thirst and urination and heightened sensitivity to infections are possible symptoms. Overtime, leg pain may occur due to nerve damage, vision may encounter complications and susceptibility to illness increases. Consistent monitoring by you and your healthcare provider, medication therapy, symptom control and dietary monitoring become a routine balancing act in battling roller coaster blood sugars.
Research indicates the lifetime risk for diabetes has climbed to over 40% for men and women. The disease is silent in the beginning stages, showing no obvious signs or symptoms. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human services estimated that 86 million adults aged 20 and older had prediabetes in America. Now is the time to take control of the wheel and steer your health in the right direction. Be an advocate for your health and become involved in protecting your health today.
Authored by: Cathleen McKnight, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Director, Patient Centered Strategies, The Little Clinic