November is National Diabetes Month, a time to bring awareness to the different forms of this condition. Let’s talk about the types of diabetes, how to manage the condition, as well as how those managing diabetes can benefit from superfoods.
National Diabetes Month
For National Diabetes Month, we want to help bring awareness to diabetes (which affects 34.2 millions Americans), and talk about managing this condition, while also highlighting some of the diabetic-friendly Superfoods Company products.
Not sure what exactly diabetes is? Here’s the lowdown: diabetes is a chronic condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar) or doesn’t use the insulin that is produced properly (or both). In these instances, too much blood sugar stays in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Let’s dive into the different types of diabetes.
National Diabetes Month: What are the Different Types of Diabetes?
You may have heard of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 (which represents about 5% to 10% of the diabetes population) is believed to be an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the cells that make insulin. This then prevents the body from being able to produce this hormone. It is typically diagnosed younger in life. People with this type of diabetes take insulin daily to manage the condition. There isn’t currently a cure or known way to prevent this type of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of this condition, and about 90% to 95% of people with diabetes have this type. With this type, the body doesn’t use the insulin properly, and is unable to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Typically, doctors diagnose adults with this type of diabetes. The exact cause is unknown. However, it is believed that a lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking, and genetics can all play a role in causing this type of diabetes.
A healthy lifestyle may help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. While there is no cure, a healthy diet and exercise can help manage the condition. A doctor may also prescribe insulin therapy or diabetes medication.
National Diabetes Month: Additional Types of Diabetes
Less frequently known types of diabetes include gestational diabetes (which develops in pregnant women) and prediabetes. Thankfully, National Diabetes Month helps put a spotlight on these types!
With gestational diabetes, a woman who has never had diabetes will develop the condition in pregnancy. This type of diabetes will typically go away after birth. However, the woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life increases.
There are two groups of diabetes within gestational diabetes. In the A1 group, a pregnant woman can manage the condition through diet and exercise. In the A2 group, a doctor will prescribe insulin or other diabetes medications.
Finally, there is prediabetes. With this form, your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be. However, they are not quite high enough to classify as diabetes. Approximately 88 million adults in the US have prediabetes. This raises your risk of type 2 or gestational diabetes. However, a healthy lifestyle can help reverse this type of early diabetes. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing your weight, as well as avoiding smoking.
Diabetic-Friendly Superfoods
Those managing diabetes know how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That’s exactly why we love incorporating superfoods into our routines. Different superfoods can help increase energy, boost metabolism, improve the immune system, fight inflammation, and so much more.
If you’re looking to add diabetic-friendly superfoods to your diet, check out our Superfood Tabs and Super Amazing Coffee! Our sugar-free, berry flavored Superfood Tabs are packed with 15 incredible superfoods, including ginger, chlorella, dandelion, and elderberry. These superfoods help boost metabolism, reduce bloating, increase energy, support brain cognition, and more!
Our Super Amazing Coffee – which is also free of sugar – contains 12 powerful superfoods. These superfoods help control cravings, boost metabolism, and beat brain fog. Both of these superfood-packed products are safe for those with diabetes.
Ready to add more superfoods to your diet during National Diabetes Month? Check out our Super Amazing Coffee and our Superfood Tabs!
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