Diabetes Definitions
This type of diabetes is more common in adults than kids.
What is type 2 OR type 2 diabetes?
This risk factor has to do with the color of your skin and where your family is from.
What is race OR ethnicity? (If you name a race or ethnicity with a higher risk you'll get the point too).
***People who are African American/Black, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Islander and some Asian Americans have a higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.
A glass of water won't make this symptom go away.
What is feeling thirsty OR frequent thirst OR polydipsia OR dry mouth OR xerostomia?
***The reason you may feel thirsty often is because your body is trying to "water down" the amount of sugar in your blood. People diagnosed with diabetes may also feel hungry often which is called "polyphagia." It can happen because your body can't use your blood sugar, so it thinks you need to eat more to get more energy.
Using these strategies can help you manage your stress.
What are coping strategies OR coping skills?
***Managing your stress can lower your stress horomones (adrelaline and cortosol). Stress horomones make it harder for insulin to work.
Diabetes can hurt the blood vessels in your eyes, leading to this condition.
What is low vision OR vision loss OR blindness?
*** Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where high blood sugar hurts the blood vessels in your eyes. This damages the retina, which is the nerve that makes you see. You might see dark spots, blurriness, or have a hard time seeing color.
This can get too high after eating candy when you have diabetes.
What is blood sugar OR blood glucose?
***Blood glucose is sugar in the blood while it is being carried through your body to storage.
This risk factor happens when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.
What is prediabetes?
***Prediabetic sugar levels are 100–125 mg/dL before eating. It is not too late to make healthy changes and stop diabetes from happening!
This symptom of diabetes might have you in the bathroom a lot.
What is peeing a lot/often OR frequent urination OR pollikiuria?
***People with Type II Diabetes may pee more often because their kidneys are trying filter out extra blood sugar by peeing it out.
Quitting this can help manage diabetes or prediabetes.
What is smoking OR using tobacco products OR vaping?
***Smoking, vaping, and using tobacco products increases your risk of a lot of conditions, including Type II Diabetes. It can also make it harder to prevent or manage your blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes should get their kidneys checked regularly for this condition.
What is Kidney Disease OR Chronic Kidney Disease?
***33% of people diagnosed with Type Two Diabetes will develop chronic kidney disease.
This hormone helps your body store sugar for energy. When you have diabetes, you might have to "take" some as a shot to help your body.
What is insulin?
***When you have Type II Diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin to keep up with the sugar in your blood. Sometimes, your cells become "insulin resistant," which means they don't recognize the insulin your body makes.
Your doctor or nurse might want to know about this to see if your genetics make it more likely for you to get diabetes.
What is family history?
***If you have a parent or sibling diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, you are more likely to have it too.
You might notice this symptom if your clothes are too big.
What is weight loss?
***People with diabetes may loose weight for no clear reason. This happens when your body can't use sugar for energy, so it starts burning your fat and even muscle instead.
This kind of doctor's visit can help you prevent conditions related to diabetes.
What are annual visits OR primary care OR check ups?
*** Diabetes affects the whole body. Visiting your primary doctor or nurse can help you stay on top of health issues connected to diabetes.
Someone with diabetes should get their oral health checked regularly for this condition.
What is gum disease OR what are cavities?
***Diabetes makes it your cuts heal more slowly. It also makes it harder for your body to fight bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities.
This can happen if you have skipped a meal. You might feel shaky, clammy, dizzy, confused, nervous, and may even pass out.
What is low blood sugar OR hypoglycemia?
*** Hypoglycemia is when your blood sugar is lower than 70 mg/dL. It can be dangerous if you don't take care of it. Hypoglycemia can also happen because you have taken too much insulin, taken certain medications, drank alcohol, or are on your period.
This risk factor makes you twice as likely to be diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
What is overweight OR obesity?
***A body fat of 25% (males) or 36% (females) is considered overweight. A body fat of 30% (males) or 42% (females) is considered obese. This is a risk factor you can control with support from your health team!
You can feel this because the nerves in your hands and feet get damaged.
What is numbness OR tingling OR neuropathy.
***Neuropathy happens because high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that feed your nerves, so your nerves do not get enough energy.
Exercising this many times a week decreases your risk of having diabetes.
What is 3 times a week?
This can make you feel numbness, pins and needles, or tingling in your hands and feet.
What is nerve damage OR neuropathy?
***Diabetes can damage nerves all throughout your body. This can also impact your ability to move around, digest food, hold your bladder or bowels, and your sexual functioning.
This test is normally used to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes.
What is A1C OR HbA1c test OR hemoglobin A1C OR glycated hemoglobin OR glycosylated hemoglobin?
***An A1C test is a blood test that tells the doctors what your blood sugar levels have been for the past 2-3 months. "Normal" levels before eating are 80 to 130 mg/dL.
If you are this age or older, you are more likely to be diagnosed with Type II Diabetes
What is 45 years old?
***Even though younger people can get diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, being 45 or older increases your risk of diabetes.
This symptom can happen because the nerves in your head get damaged. It can also happen when your blood sugar levels are too high or low.
What are headaches?
Your doctor may tell you to avoid eating food with a lot of these.
What are carbohydrates OR carbs OR sugars?
***Changing the way you eat can help control your blood sugar. People with diabetes are often told to avoid carbohydrates, added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium (salt). Always check with your health team about what to eat for diabetes.
If you have diabetes, you are __ times likely to get heart disease.
What is two times?
***High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart.