Who Does Diabetes Affect and How Can a Continuous Glucose Monitor Help?

Diabetes is more impactful and widespread than most people think.?

Here are a few staggering statistics to show the true seriousness of the disease.1,2

• There are 463 million adults (20-49) living with diabetes worldwide and that number is expected to increase to 700 million by 2045.
• In 2019, diabetes caused 4.2 million deaths globally. It’s the 7th leading cause of death in the US.?
• One in 5 people aged 65 and over have diabetes.
• More than 1.1 million children and adolescents are living with Type 1 diabetes.
• 374 million people are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes cost approximately USD 760 billion dollars in healthcare expenditures.

Age?

Diabetes affects both a younger and older population. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, can be found in patients at birth. It can also be found in toddlers and school-aged children but can also appear later in life.?

Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age, even during childhood. Although, it is most often diagnosed in a middle-aged and older population.??

Ethnicity?

Diabetes risk factors can also be linked to race and ethnicity and can also be traced back to family history and country of origin. “Pacific Islanders and American Indians have the highest rates of diabetes and are more than twice as likely to have the condition than Caucasians. It is also more common among African-Americans and Asian-Americans.”3 The diet and lifestyle of a particular region or race can be a contributing factor, as well as genetics and body type.?

Gender?

“Diabetes, especially type 2, is more common in males rather than females. However, females often have more serious complications and a greater risk of death. Recent research has shown that there is a link between testosterone and the development of type 2 diabetes and men with lower testosterone levels have a greater risk. Conversely, women with higher blood testosterone levels have been identified as having a greater risk.”4

Other Risk Factors

In addition to age, ethnicity and gender, there are other risk factors to consider.?

• Weight.?Increased fatty tissue found in the body can cause cells to become more resistant to insulin.
• Inactivity.?The less active, the greater the risk. Physical activity helps control weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.
• Family history.?Risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 2 Diabetes.
• High blood pressure.?Having blood pressure over 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is linked to an increased risk of type 2 Diabetes.
• Abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.?Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol, creates a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Triglycerides are another type of fat carried in the blood. People with high levels of triglycerides also have an increased risk of type 2 Diabetes.?

?Continuous Glucose Monitors Can Help?

Diabetes does not discriminate and can affect anyone. Because of this, patients often feel like things are out of control and helpless.?There are controllable and uncontrollable forces at work when it comes to diabetes. One way to keep things under control and gain peace of mind is with a Continuous Glucose Monitor. A CGMs, like the FreeStyle Libre, monitors extreme highs and lows and can help to identify what causes changes in blood glucose levels. Continuous Glucose Monitors also track patterns to help identify when changes in diet, exercise or schedule might be too much for the body to handle and notifies the user when things are out of control. A CGMs is a good resource to control the unexpected and factors that can’t be controlled.?

Becoming More Than a Statistic??

Diabetes can strike anyone at any time, and no one is immune to the disease. That is why at Quest Health Solutions, our mission is to create awareness and provide support and education to our patients and healthcare providers. By working together, we can all learn how to take control of diabetes. Whether you are a patient, a healthcare provider, a Diabetic educator or a loved one looking for more information, we are here to support you on this journey. To learn more, contact us 1-877-888-7050 Option 3, Ext. 1011, email [email protected] or schedule an appointment today.?In the meantime, please continue to check our blog for more information and let us know about any topics you would like to learn more about in the future.?

1. (2020) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-stat-report.html#:~:text=34.2%20million%20Americans%E2%80%94just%20over,1%20in%203%E2%80%94have%20prediabetes. Accessed on 19 July 2021.?
2. (2020) International Diabetes Federations. About Diabetes. Available at?https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes/facts-figures.html. Accessed on 19 July 2021.
3. (2021) WebMD. How Race Can Matter in Type 2 Diabetes. Available at https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-two-diabetes-race accessed on 20 July 2021.
4. (2019) News Medical Life Sciences. Available at https://www.news-medical.net/health/Diabetes-in-Men-versus-Women.aspx accessed on 20 July 2021.?