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November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and if you’re one of the more than 1 in 3 Americans with pre-diabetes, now is the perfect time to understand what’s really happening inside your body, warning signs, and what you can do about it.
It’s Not Just About Sugar, but Insulin Too
“Diabetes is not just a blood sugar problem but also an insulin problem,” explains Dr. Stewart Decker, Sky Lakes’ clinical wellness officer & medical director. “Blood sugar is important; it is how you have energy to do all the things you need to do. Think of it like fuel. Your heart uses it to beat, your brain to think, your lungs to breathe, and your muscles to flex.”
Here’s where things get tricky. Sugar enters your bloodstream after your small intestine absorbs it, but it needs help getting into your muscle cells where you actually use it. That’s where insulin comes in. “Insulin acts as the key to unlock the door of the cells, allowing sugar to enter from the blood,” says Decker.
When Your Body Stops Listening
Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes happens when your body has processed too much sugar over your lifetime. While genetics play a role, your lifestyle is the main driver. “High sugar, high carbohydrate (which just turns into sugar in your stomach), low vegetable and low exercise lifestyles are the primary causes of diabetes,” Decker explains.
When you eat more sugar than you’re using, your cells stop paying attention to insulin. The sugar gets stuck in your bloodstream, where it damages blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, your heart, brain, and gut. Your body tries to fix this by making more insulin, but your muscles just ignore it even more. It’s a vicious cycle.
Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Unfortunately, pre-diabetes and early type 2 diabetes often have no obvious symptoms. You might feel completely fine. But some people notice subtle changes like feeling more tired than usual, getting thirsty more often, or needing to urinate more frequently, especially at night. Your vision might get a bit blurry, or your skin might feel drier than normal. Or you might get frequent urinary tract, skin, or yeast infections.
You Have More Control Than You Think
The good news? Decker says “The first and best way to treat type 2 diabetes is to both put less sugar in your blood (by changing your diet) and to spend the sugar that you already have (by exercising)”
You don’t need a perfect diet or marathon training. Start by cutting back on desserts, candy, sugary drinks like soda and juice, and processed carbs like white bread, rice, and pasta. Add more vegetables to your plate.
For exercise, Decker says to keep it simple: “Literally any movement counts, so your target should be to move your body more in whatever ways you can.” If you’re feeling short of breath, whether you’re walking, dancing, swimming, or chopping firewood, it counts as exercise.
When You Need More Help
Sometimes diet and exercise aren’t enough, and that’s okay. Your doctor might prescribe medications like Metformin or newer GLP-1 injections. But even with medication, diet and exercise remain the foundation of managing type 2 diabetes.
Remember: Small changes today can prevent serious health problems tomorrow — and during Diabetes Awareness Month, there’s no better time to start.
