Diabetes Basics

Type 2 diabetes is very common in the U.S. Most of the time, type 2 diabetes can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

What is diabetes?

The cells in your body use sugar for energy. That sugar gets into your cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. Diabetes is a chronic (ongoing) medical condition that occurs when disruptions to insulin cause sugar to build up in the blood instead of getting to your cells.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or when your body’s cells stop responding to insulin. (It’s different from type 1 diabetes, which occurs when your body attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin.) Type 2 diabetes can often be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health issues.

How many people have diabetes?

Diabetes is incredibly common, impacting about 10.5% of all Americans (34 million). About 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops after the age of 45, but it can develop in younger people too.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

You might have diabetes if you experience:

• Urinating (peeing) often
• Extreme thirst or hunger
• Losing weight without trying
• Blurry vision
• Tingling or numb hands or feet
• Feeling tired
• Dry skin
• Slow-healing sores
• More infections than usual

What happens if diabetes goes untreated?

Undiagnosed diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels. If blood sugar levels stay high for too long, you could experience:

• Heart problems (from damage to blood vessels and nerves)
• Kidney damage (from continually filtering excess blood sugar)
• Loss of vision or other eye issues (from damage to blood vessels in the eye)
• Amputation (from nerve damage and poor circulation)
• Severe or life-threatening electrolyte problems stemming from diabetic ketoacidosis (a condition in which the body starts to burn fat for fuel and produces ketones, or blood acids)

Who’s at risk for developing type 2 diabetes?

You’re at higher risk for it if you:

• Are 45 years or older
• Have a sibling or parent with type 2 diabetes
• Don’t get much physical activity
• Eat a diet high in refined carbohydrates and simple sugars
• Are overweight or obese
• Have certain other medical conditions, like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
• Certain ethnic groups are more prone to T2D such as African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, or part of certain Pacific Islander or Asian American groups.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test is the most common way to know if you have diabetes. This test shows your average blood sugar level over 2 to 3 months.

Here’s how to interpret the results of a HbA1c test:

• Normal: Less than 5.7%
• Prediabetes: 5.7–6.4%
• Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

How do I manage type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes may feel like an overwhelming diagnosis, but you can manage it by:

• Eating a balanced and nutritious diet
• Being active
• Taking your medications
• Having regular check-ins with your care team

Your Firefly care team will support you in creating a treatment plan, making lifestyle changes, and tracking your blood glucose (sugar) levels with a blood glucose meter.

Together, we can keep your blood sugar level under control and lower your risk of serious complications.