Diabetes

Welcome to the CAS Newsroom.  My name is Itia Pryor and I’m the Director of Nursing at CAS Resources. Now, let’s talk …….. Diabetes! Although it’s not American Diabetes Month, it’s a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans year round so it should still be discussed throughout the year.

What is it?

Diabetes is a disease caused by the body’s inability to make enough insulin or use it properly. When we eat, our body releases glucose (sugar) which signals the pancreas to release insulin to convert to energy to be used by the body. 

There are multiple types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes, and pre-diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually seen in younger adults or children and the body makes little to no insulin with no known cause. Type 2 diabetes develops over time and is usually caused by a sedentary lifestyle such as lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women and resolves after giving birth. Pre-diabetes is when your blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. 

Some signs and symptoms of high blood sugar are fruity-smelling breath, frequent urination, increased thirst, and blurred vision. On the contrary, signs of hypoglycemia include sweats, confusion, fatigue, and shakiness. While diabetes cannot be cured, it can be managed with diet, weight loss, medications, and insulin.

Be sure to continuously visit our website or follow our social media to stay up to date with our upcoming videos, events, and resources. This video is sponsored by The R.E.I.D. Foundation, a nonprofit food pantry, which is taking donations to continue addressing the immediate food & wellness needs of vulnerable communities.”  Scan the QR Code in the video with your smartphone’s camera or visit casresources.org/diabetes to learn more about diabetes and how you can donate to help their cause.

To learn about prediabetes and its signs & symptoms visit casresources.org/diabetes-prevention.