Big news! I have recently agreed to collaborate with WJON’s Health Matters Program were I will be talking about all things wellness.

As part of my collaboration on WJON’s Health Matters Program, I have been doing a few podcasts. This week the topic is Diabetes. I’ll be talking about the three types of diabetes and which one is most common in the United States and why.

Listen to the 4-part podcast here.

EXCERPTS:

Types of Tests:
There is your standard blood glucose level test and A1C, hemoglobin A1C.

Pre-Diabetes vs Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is not as severe in terms of insulin resistance, but it can turn into diabetes without proper lifestyle changes immediately.

“…Well, you don’t have quite as severe insulin resistance with pre-diabetes, but, in my opinion,  should not be considered any less a diagnosis. It’s a warning. You get a free pass to fix and head it off at the pass, before it turns into full blown diabetes because once it does it’s a lot more difficult…”

Types: Type 1 and Type 2

Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. It’s a genetic predisposition disease that prevents any insulin from being produced.
Type 2 affects the production of or resistance to insulin. Commonly, it doesn’t respond to insulin and later doesn’t make enough.

Both are chronic and lead to high blood sugar levels, which increases diabetes complications.