Get educated about diabetes and take control of this manageable disease

The numbers are staggering. Diabetes isn’t just a disease – it’s an epidemic, affecting over 38 million Americans with devastating consequences.

• 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed each year
• 11.6% of Americans had diabetes in 2023
• 97.6 million American adults are living with prediabetes

Diabetes is a progressive, chronic disease that you’ll need to manage independently day-to-day for the rest of your life. While that may sound overwhelming, with help from the team at the UHS Diabetes Center, it doesn’t have to be. Located at 93 Pennsylvania Ave. in Binghamton, the Diabetes Center has served the region since the 1970s. The center manages care for patients with Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes who are 18 and older, whether they’re newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for many years. November is National Diabetes Month, a great time to make sure you are informed.

Types of diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction stops your body from making insulin. Approximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have Type 1. Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age, and symptoms often develop quickly. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

With Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have Type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more frequently in children, teens, and young adults). You may not notice any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at risk. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:

• Losing weight
• Eating healthy food
• Being active

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health problems. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born. However, it increases your risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen and develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Prediabetes

In the United States, over 97 million adults — more than 1 in 3 — have prediabetes. More than 8 in 10 of them don’t know they have it. With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes raises your risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. But there’s good news. If you have prediabetes, a lifestyle change can help you take healthy steps to reverse it.

Secondary Diabetes

Secondary diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs as a result of another medical condition or treatment, such as surgery or specific diseases. Surgical procedures like a pancreatectomy (partial or complete removal of the pancreas) can significantly reduce or eliminate the body's ability to produce insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and the onset of secondary diabetes. Similarly, cystic fibrosis can damage the pancreas over time, disrupting its normal function and contributing to the development of this condition. Management of secondary diabetes often requires insulin therapy to regulate blood glucose levels, as the body's natural insulin production is insufficient or completely absent due to the underlying cause.

A manageable disease

UHS-registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators note: Diabetes affects most activities of daily living. However, diabetes does not have to limit your dreams or ambitions: With a little planning, a person with diabetes can do anything. Our team helps patients learn techniques to self-manage their disease by monitoring blood sugar, eating healthfully, being active, taking medications, managing stress and prioritizing self-care to prevent or delay diabetes complications.

Diabetes can affect people at any age. Diagnosis usually occurs when an individual presents with symptoms such as blurry vision, increased thirst and urination, fatigue, hunger, drowsiness, slow-healing cuts or wounds, or numbness or tingling in the feet, prompting a provider to order a blood test. Adults 35 and older should be screened for diabetes regularly. It is important to have regular screenings for diabetes from your primary care provider, even if you have no symptoms, as many people do not realize they have elevated blood sugars.

Our Diabetes Center’s team includes endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, diabetes educators and a dietitian. For diabetes-related foot, eye, dental or mental health care, patients can be referred directly to UHS specialists.  The team creates an individualized treatment plan based on each patient’s needs, barriers and personal situation. Routine visits with the endocrinologist or nurse practitioner are scheduled every three to four months, and, between appointments, patients can call with questions or concerns. Direct connections to each patient’s primary care provider ensure that everyone involved in the patient’s care is on the same page.

UHS experts say that the disease process is ever-changing, and factors such as stress, pain, food, physical activity, illness, sleep and medications can affect blood sugar. Communication is key between the patient and their diabetes team – whether it’s to report blood sugars, discuss a concern, or discuss more affordable medication or treatments. UHS’ unique approach means patients can access comprehensive diabetes management and a diabetes education program all under one roof.

Recent advances in diabetes care technology means patients now have more options than ever for managing the disease:

• A continuous glucose monitor is a small sensor worn on the abdomen or back of the arm – it provides a glucose reading without a fingerstick (not all insurance plans cover this, so be sure to check with your carrier). Many continuous glucose monitors send glucose readings directly to a smart phone or receiver.
• Insulin pumps can help increase the time a person’s blood sugar is in range with advanced features such as stopping insulin delivery, increasing insulin delivery off of sensor readings or increasing insulin according to glucose readings.
• New glucose meters use less blood and connect to smart phone apps.
• Improved insulin pens make injections easier and allow concentrated insulin to be easily available. New oral and injectable medications are now available, which provide more treatment options for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes websites and apps help patients monitor and track their progress, provide increased resources for education, and engage patients in self-care.

“Diabetes is a chronic, debilitating disease, but with proper control and management, we can significantly improve outcomes and help patients lead healthier lives.” said Olayinka Wilhelm, MD of the UHS Diabetes and Endocrinology Center.

For more information on UHS Diabetes services, click here.