Did you know? More than 100 million Americans are now living with either diabetes or prediabetes. That’s a lot of people with elevated blood sugar!

You may know that there’s more than one type of diabetes, but do you understand the differences between them? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville offers some perspective.

What Is Diabetes?

Before we dive into the different types of diabetes, let’s first talk about what diabetes is. Diabetes is a medical condition in which your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is elevated.

The reason why that happens differs between the two types of diabetes, but regardless of which type you have, high blood sugar can cause a full range of symptoms in the body and put you at a higher risk of conditions like heart disease, stroke and even COVID-19.

Diabetes Symptoms

• Increased urination
• Increased, unquenchable thirst
• Unexplainable weight loss
• Intense hunger
• Blurry vision
• Numb or tingling hands or feet
• Fatigue
• Dry skin

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

The two types of diabetes differ in what causes your blood sugar to elevate. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces little or no insulin, the hormone that helps the body produce energy from glucose.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, affects how your body metabolizes blood sugar. Either the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it resists insulin. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 diabetes, accounting for the majority of cases in the United States.

How to Prevent Diabetes

• Eat a balanced diet filled with fruits and veggies.
• Limit your intake of added sugars and saturated fat.
• Don’t smoke.
• Exercise regularly, for at least 150 minutes each week.
• Get plenty of quality sleep.

Keeping a careful eye on your blood sugar levels is an important part of maintaining good health. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Louisville today for a checkup and lab work!