4 most common diabetes questions, answered

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Diabetes is a condition in which the body either produces too little insulin or doesn't use the insulin that it produces

correctly. There are two broad categories of diabetes in this country, although there are some rare exceptions.

There are so-called type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, that occurs in individuals

whose body wages an autoimmune attack against the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas.

And over time, as that beta cell mass is lost, there is no longer insulin produced. And these individuals have problems with managing glucose

levels appropriately. On the other hand, the vast majority of diabetes

is so-called type 2 diabetes, what we used to call adult onset diabetes. And then the body does make sufficient amount of insulin.

But the problem is that due to obesity and other metabolic constraints, that insulin isn't used properly.

In fact, the state of insulin resistance exists. These patients often will require medications

to either make the insulin that is produced even a higher level to achieve metabolic control or perhaps

use drugs that may improve the ability of insulin to work effectively at its target tissues.

But over time, they will require additional drugs. And then ultimately, most of them will require insulin therapy, as well.

[UPBEAT MUSIC] Unlike many diseases, type two diabetes is preventable in a lot of cases.

The first step towards prevention is exercise. Doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity for at least

five days a week can help you lose weight, lower your blood sugar, and increase your body's sensitivity to insulin.

Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and whole grains and low in sugar and processed carbs

can not only lower your blood sugar, it can also reduce your risk for heart disease and help you lose weight.

If you are overweight, even a 5% to 10% weight loss can reduce your risk significantly.

Eating well balanced meals full of whole and natural foods is the key for weight loss and diabetes prevention.

As you get older, your risk for diabetes increases. So make sure you get your blood sugar levels checked regularly.

When you see your doctor. You're in the doctor's office. And you've just gotten the word I have diabetes.

Probably for the next 30 minutes, you're just not going to be paying attention at all because you're going to be ruminating over the idea

that you have diabetes. But there are a few things that you need to take away from that first visit. First of all, you should understand what type of diabetes

the doctor thinks you have. And actually, sometimes this is not clear at the first visit. But there are two major types-- type 1 and type 2.

And they're treated very differently. You should also probably know what your overall level of diabetes control is at that point,

whether you need to make major interventions or whether your blood sugar is just a little bit elevated.

And you should probably focus on the question of, what are the lifestyle changes that you should make right at the beginning? Is your diet pretty good but your exercise is lousy,

or your exercise is good, but after you go for your run, you hit up the fast food joint. So you should have a preliminary treatment plan.

You should know where you are as a starting point. And you should understand the type of diabetes you have so that you can have some expectation of how

it's going to unfold over time. Type two diabetes is becoming an epidemic in the US.

The first steps toward treating type 2 diabetes are often simple lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole

grains and low in processed carbohydrates can make a big difference in a short period of time.

Adding physical activity to your routine can help tremendously, too. At least 30 minutes of exercise five days

a week can help keep your blood sugar levels in check. And using a combination of aerobic exercises and strength

training is key. Be careful, though. Exercise lowers blood sugar. So before you hit the gym, make sure you talk to your doctor

about what foods to eat before, during, and after your workouts to prevent low blood sugar. If diet and exercise don't help, several medications

are available to help. Some drugs work to improve your body's response to insulin, while others help the body generate more insulin.

Other medications work to slow digestion and help avoid large blood sugar spikes that come with eating.

And some help the kidneys filter sugar out of the bloodstream and into the urine. In some type 2 diabetes patients who

may not be making enough insulin, insulin injections may be needed. Each case of type two diabetes is different,

and which treatment is best depends on a lot of different factors. So working with your doctor to ensure you're on the right combination of treatments is essential.