Your First Year with Diabetes

How did I get diabetes? I don’t eat a lot of sugar.

It is not as simple as sugar consumption. It’s part genetics and environment, and sometimes the cause is not known.

Why did I get diabetes?

No one can be sure. Even though millions of people have it, each individual’s case is different. Some scientific theories suggest that an environmental trigger activates a genetic code, flipping the diabetes switch to “on.”

Compounding the issue is insulin resistance, which is common with type 2 diabetes and often occurs with individuals who are overweight. When someone has insulin resistance, cells do not respond to circulating insulin (whether the insulin was released from the pancreas or taken in the form of an injection). This means “the lock” on the cell is stubborn and insulin (“the key”) has difficulty opening it, thus blood glucose levels go up.

By the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, up to 80% of the beta-cells may be destroyed. You can help protect your remaining beta-cells by making mindful food choices, being active on a regular basis, and, when needed, taking medication.

Some of the risk for complications is controlled by genetic factors, so you do your best on a daily basis to combine what is in your control (your “environment”—sensible eating, being active, and, if needed, taking medications) with what is not under your control (your “genetics” or inherited traits from your parents and ancestors).

Although diabetes means you have too much blood glucose, it is the end result of a complex, hormonal issue that relates to the body’s ability to make and use insulin and to get energy from foods.

It is never too late to jump-start your diabetes self-management program. The key is to be gentle with yourself because you are your best resource for managing your diabetes.

If so, your first assignment is to stop the blame game and get on your own side.

Being active

• Improves blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity

• Helps you lose weight or maintain weight loss

• Lowers blood pressure and stress

• Raises good cholesterol levels (high-density lipoprotein [HDL])

• Improves heart function, sex life, and sleep

• Helps to prevent and manage depression

• Keeps bones healthy

• Increases life span

• Saves money (fewer health issues and less medicine mean more money in your pocket)

*Contains carbohydrates; †may contain carbohydrates; ‡recent controversial research suggests that fructose converts to fat more easily and increases insulin resistance, although a consensus has still not been reached by the scientific community.