Diabetes Topics
Prediabetes - Prediabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes - Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which your body loses the ability to produce insulin, which is necessary to convert food into energy and regulate blood sugar levels.
Type 2 Diabetes - Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition involving high blood sugar levels and reduced responsiveness to insulin. This can lead to dangerous complications for your eyes, heart, and other organs. Careful monitoring, diet, exercise, and medications can help keep your blood sugar in a safe range.
Gestational Diabetes - Gestational Diabetes develops during pregnancy, causing dangerously high blood sugar for both the mother & baby. Learn how to lower blood sugar levels to protect yourself & developing fetus.
Diabetes Drugs - Diabetes drugs are responsible for increasing or decreasing blood sugar levels so that you can stay in a healthy range and avoid serious complications.
Metformin – Metformin decreases glucose production from the liver, thus lowering blood sugar.
Insulin – Insulin facilitates glucose uptake into the body’s cells.
SGLT-2 inhibitors – SGLT-2 inhibitor drugs block the process of reabsorbing glucose back into our blood, causing glucose to be excreted through urine.
GLP-1 receptor agonists – A GLP1 is a hormone produced in the small intestine. It stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon secretion to lower blood sugar.
DPP-4 inhibitors – Inhibiting the enzyme DPP-4 increases the level of hormone GLP-1 to stimulate insulin production and decrease glucose levels.
Combination drugs – Combination therapies put multiple drug classes into a single medication. Combinations can be injectable or taken as a pill.
Sulfonylureas – Sulfonylureas stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas to release insulin.
TZDs – A TZD bind to a particular protein in cells to activate genes and create new proteins that reduce insulin resistance and help glucose enter cells.
Diabetes Devices - Diabetes devices monitor and manage your blood sugar levels to stay within a safe range, helping you prevent dangerous complications.
Blood Glucose Meters and Strips - A blood glucose meter (BGM) measure a person’s blood sugar level at the specific moment of checking.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) - A CGM measures the body's glucose levels by sensing the glucose present in the tissue fluid every five minutes (288 times per day).
Injection Pens - Injection pens are used for injecting a drug in a patient-friendly way that is easier than using a syringe.
Insulin Pumps - Insulin pumps are devices that deliver insulin without the need for manual injections.
Automated Insulin Delivery Systems - The goal of an automated insulin delivery system (aka Artificial Pancreas or Closed Loop) is to reduce or eliminate hypoglycemia, improve time-in-range, and reduce hyperglycemia – especially overnight.
Mobile Coaching Services - Mobile coaching services help connect people with diabetes to healthcare professionals virtually, in real-time.
Diet, Exercise & Diabetes - For people with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), prediabetes, and obesity, food and exercise play an even greater role in managing day-to-day health.
Diabetes Complications - Diabetes complications are caused by your blood sugar (glucose) being out of a safe range, either too high or too low. Complications can affect your vision, kidneys, and heart.
Access to Diabetes Care - Access to affordable diabetes medications and care is often a challenge for people with diabetes. Learn about the options available to help manage your costs.
Diabetes Blogs and Forums - Diabetes blogs and forums are a fantastic resource for people with diabetes and those who care about them. These sites offer information, support, and advice on all aspects of living with diabetes.
Time in Range (TIR) - “Time-in-Range” is the percentage of time that a person spends with their blood glucose levels in a safe target range. The range will vary depending on the person, but general guidelines suggest starting with a range of 70 to 180 mg/dl.