Category: Health

OBESITY

Obesity is commonly defined as having too much body fat. A BMI of 30 or higher is the usual benchmark for obesity in adults. Obesity increases the risk of serious medical conditions. Treatments include changing what you eat, adding activity and mental health support.

What is obesity?

Obesity is when you have excessive body fat. It’s a chronic (long-term) and complex disease that can affect your overall health and quality of life. Obesity can lead to serious medical conditions. It can affect your self-esteem and mental health.

f you have obesity, you’re not alone. It’s a common disease that affects 2 in 5 adults in the United States. A healthcare provider can help you find the treatments and management strategies for your body and health.

What are the symptoms of obesity?

While obesity is a disease, it doesn’t cause specific symptoms. A healthcare provider may define obesity by calculating your:

  • Body mass index: The BMI measures average body weight against average body height. Healthcare providers use BMI to classify obesity.
  • Body shape: Providers may measure your waist circumference.

BMI classifications

Healthcare providers classify obesity by your BMI. There are three general classes of obesity that providers use to decide what steps you can take to lose weight. Those classes are:

  • Class I obesity: BMI 30 to less than 35 kg/m² (kilograms per square meter).
  • Class II obesity: BMI 35 to less than 40 kg/m².
  • Class III obesity: BMI 40+ kg/m².

When you think about the BMI scale, it’s important to remember the BMI scale doesn’t accurately predict specific health risks.

Waist circumference

Where you carry extra weight may be a sign that you have more risk of health issues that obesity may cause. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a waist circumference of more than 35 inches in females or 40 inches in males can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes.

What causes obesity?

On the most basic level, obesity happens when you consume more calories than your body can use. Many things may play a role in why you may eat more food than your body needs:

  • Certain medications: Medications you take to treat other conditions may contribute to weight gain. Examples are antidepressants, steroids, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications and beta-blockers.
  • Disability: Adults and children with physical and learning disabilities are most at risk for obesity. Physical limitations and lack of adequate specialized education and resources can contribute.
  • Eating habits: Consuming more calories than your body needs, eating ultra-processed food, high-sugar foods and drinks, and foods with high amounts of saturated fat may cause overweight.
  • Genetics: Research shows people with obesity carry specific genes (obesity-susceptibility genes) that affect appetite. It’s not clear if people with overweight have the same genetic makeup.
  • Lack of physical activity: High amounts of screen time — like watching TV, playing video games or spending time on your mobile phone or laptop — cut into the time you have for physical activity.
  • Lack of sleep: Missing out on at least seven hours of sleep can affect the hormones that keep hunger urges under control.
  • Stress: Your brain and body react to stress by making more hormones like cortisol that manage hunger. When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to eat high-fat, high-sugar food (comfort food) that your body stores as extra fat.
  • Underlying health issues: Diseases like metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome can cause side effects like weight gain. Mental health issues like anxiety and depression can lead to eating high-calorie foods that activate the pleasure centers in your brain.

What are the complications of obesity?

Obesity affects your body in many ways. For example, it may cause metabolic changes that increase your risk of serious illnesses. Obesity may also have direct and indirect effects on your overall health.

Metabolic changes

Your metabolism is how your body converts calories into energy to fuel your body. When your body has more calories than it can use, it converts the extra calories into lipids and stores them in your body fat. When you run out of tissue to store lipids, the fat cells themselves become enlarged. Enlarged fat cells secrete hormones and other chemicals that cause inflammation.

Inflammation can lead to insulin resistance so your body can’t use insulin to lower the sugar and fats in your blood. High levels of sugar and fats in your blood lead to high blood pressure. Combined, these conditions lead to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a common factor in obesity. The syndrome also increases your risk of developing diseases like:

  • Cardiovascular diseases: Having obesity increases your risk for cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack and stroke.
  • Fatty liver disease: Excess fats circulating in your blood make their way to your liver, which is responsible for filtering your blood. When your liver begins storing excess fat, it can lead to chronic liver inflammation (hepatitis) and long-term liver damage (cirrhosis).
  • Gallstones: Higher blood cholesterol levels can cause cholesterol to accumulate in your gallbladder, which increases your risk of cholesterol gallstones and gallbladder diseases.
  • Kidney disease: High blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease are among the most common contributors to chronic kidney disease.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Having obesity specifically raises your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Statistically, obesity increases your risk of premature death from all causes. Studies show you can reduce that risk by losing even a small amount (5% to 10%) of your current weight.

Direct effects

Excess body fat can crowd the organs of your respiratory system and put stress and strain on your musculoskeletal system. This contributes to:

Having obesity increases your risk of conditions and diseases like:

How do healthcare providers diagnose obesity?

Your healthcare provider will measure your weight, height and waist circumference at your appointment. They may do body composition tests like a bone density test scan or a bioelectrical impedance analysis. This test measures body composition based on the rate at which an electrical current passes through your body. More importantly, they’ll want to know about your overall health. They’ll ask about:

  • Your history of medical conditions and treatments, including medications. They may ask about your biological family’s health.
  • Your weight history, including your experience with any weight management strategies that you’ve tried.
  • Your lifestyle, including your current eating habits, how you sleep and how much activity you do in your daily life.
  • Your mental well-being. They may ask about stress and other things that could affect your mental well-being. Stress and other issues can lead to eating more.

Your provider will also examine your vital signs, and they may order certain blood tests. They’ll use this complete profile to diagnose obesity and any related conditions you might have.

How is obesity treated?

Your healthcare provider will work with you to find a weight loss plan that works for you. Since everyone is different, it may take some trial and error to figure out which therapies work best:

  • Changing what you eat: You’re unique. That means you should tailor any change in what you eat to what works for you. There are ways to make meals packed with healthy food. Your provider can suggest scientifically proven eating plans like the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet. These aren’t like other diets that have restrictive, negative aspects. They’re more like a set of positive guidelines that can help you meet your nutrition goals.
  • Building activity into your day: Activity burns off calories and there are many ways to boost your activity
  • Mental health support: Counseling, support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help support positive changes. They can also help you manage stress and address emotional and psychological factors that may be working against you.

Medication for weight loss

Your healthcare provider may recommend that you add medication to your weight loss plan. Medications aren’t the whole answer to weight loss, but they can help tackle it from another angle. For example, appetite suppressants can intercept some of the pathways to your brain that affect your hunger. The following drugs have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as obesity treatments:

  • Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave®): May reduce cravings and food intake.
  • GLP-1 agonists: Controls appetite, makes you feel full earlier and may lower your blood sugar. Ozempic® is an example of a GLP1 agonist.
  • Semaglutide (Wegovy®) and/or tirzepatide (Zepbound®): Suppresses appetite. Providers may combine this medication with a GLP-1 agonist.
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda®): Reduces appetite and slows digestion.
  • Orlistat (Xenical®, Alli®): Reduces absorption of fat from your gut.
  • Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia®): Makes you less hungry.
  • Phentermine (Adipex-P®, Lomaira®, Suprenza®): Decreases your appetite. It’s approved for use for three months at a time.

Weight loss surgery

If you have class III obesity, bariatric surgery may be an option for you. Bariatric surgery procedures work by changing your digestive system — usually your stomach, and sometimes also your small intestine — to regulate how many calories you can consume and absorb. They can also reduce the hunger signals that travel from your digestive system to your brain. Bariatric surgeries include:

What can I expect if I have obesity?

Having obesity increases your risk of some serious medical conditions. But having obesity doesn’t mean you have those conditions or there’s nothing you can do to prevent them. Remember, weight loss of just 5% to 10% can significantly improve your health risks. Sticking with a long-term treatment plan can help you maintain weight loss.

Can obesity be prevented?

Preventing obesity is easier than treating it once it’s taken hold. That’s because your body manages your body mass by shifting gears as it balances your hunger signals against the amount of energy you use from your daily activity. Once your body establishes a new high “set point,” it considers that to be your new baseline weight. That new set point may put your weight higher on the scale or the BMI table. Examining your habits and making reasonable changes now can help you prevent future obesity. Here are some examples:

  • Make small changes: Do you have a daily snack habit or “pick-me-up,” such as a sugary drink, which is high in calories? Consider replacing it. Just 150 extra calories a day can add up to 10 extra pounds in a year. That’s equal to a snack-size bag of potato chips, or just two double-stuffed sandwich cookies.
  • Add physical activity: Alternatively, consider what you might do to spend an extra 150 calories in a day by finding an activity that’s right for you and your fitness level.
  • Shop intentionally: Stock your home with healthy foods and save sweets and treats for special occasions when you go out.
  • Cultivate overall wellness: Reduce your screen time, go outside and get some fresh air. Manage your stress and try to get adequate sleep to keep your hormone levels in check. Focus on positive changes and healthy activities rather than how your efforts affect your weight.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

If you have obesity, you may feel like there’s nothing you can do to manage your condition. Those feelings are understandable and quite common. If you think you may have obesity, talk to a healthcare provider. They’ll help you find an approach to managing weight that’s right for you.

METABOLIC SYNDROME

Metabolic syndrome involves having at least 3 out of 5 health conditions that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. It can cause other complications as well. Each condition is treatable with lifestyle changes and/or medication.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. It can lead to other health problems as well, like conditions related to plaque buildup in artery walls (atherosclerosis) and organ damage.

Other names for metabolic syndrome include:

  • Syndrome X.
  • Insulin resistance syndrome.
  • Dysmetabolic syndrome.

Criteria for metabolic syndrome

A person meets the criteria for metabolic syndrome if they have at least three of the following:

  • Excess abdominal weight: A waist circumference of more than 40 inches in males and 35 inches in females
  • Hypertriglyceridemia: Triglyceride levels that are 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or greater.
  • Low levels of HDL cholesterol: HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in males or less than 50 mg/dL in females.
  • Elevated blood sugar levels: Fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or greater. If it’s 100 to 125 mg/dL, you have prediabetes. If it’s over 125 mg/dL, you likely have Type 2 diabetes.
  • High blood pressure: Blood pressure values of systolic 130 mmHg or higher (the top number) and/or diastolic 85 mmHg or higher (the bottom number).

All of these conditions individually increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. But when you have three or more, your risk increases significantly. You should see a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome as a warning sign to try to change aspects of your health to lower your risk.

How common is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is common in the United States. About 1 out of every 3 adults have it.

What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?

Not all aspects of metabolic syndrome cause symptoms. So, your symptoms will vary based on which of the five conditions you have. For example, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol usually don’t cause symptoms.

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can cause symptoms for some people, like:

See a healthcare provider if you have these symptoms.

What causes metabolic syndrome?

Several factors contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome — and it’s a complex web of factors. But researchers think insulin resistance is the main driver behind the syndrome.

Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes that’s essential for life and regulating blood glucose (sugar) levels.

For several reasons, your muscle, fat and liver cells can respond inappropriately to insulin. This means they can’t efficiently take up glucose from your blood or store it. This is insulin resistance. As a result, your pancreas makes more insulin to try to overcome your increasing blood glucose levels. This is called hyperinsulinemia.

If your body can’t produce enough insulin to effectively manage your blood sugar, it leads to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia can also contribute to:

The following can all contribute to insulin resistance:

  • Excess weight around your abdomen or having obesity: Body fat releases chemicals (called proinflammatory cytokines) that dampen the effect of insulin. The more excess body fat you have, the more it can negatively affect how insulin works. Studies show that excess body fat around your abdomen, in particular, increases your risk of insulin resistance. Excess visceral fat (fat around your organs) causes more insulin resistance than excess subcutaneous fat (fat under your skin). But they both play a role in metabolic syndrome.
  • Lack of physical activity: Your muscles use a lot of glucose and stored glucose (glycogen) to function. Physical activity makes your body more sensitive to insulin and builds muscle that can absorb more blood glucose. A lack of physical activity can have opposite effects and cause insulin resistance.
  • Certain medications: Certain medications can cause insulin resistance, including corticosteroids, some blood pressure medications, certain HIV treatments and some psychiatric medications.
  • Genetics: The genes you inherited from your biological parents can contribute to insulin resistance. They can also contribute to having obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will do a physical exam and order blood tests if they think you might be at risk for or have metabolic syndrome. They’ll check your blood pressure and may measure the circumference around your waist.

They’ll order blood tests, like:

  • Lipid panel: This panel includes four different cholesterol measurements and a measurement of your triglycerides.
  • Basic metabolic panel (BMP): This panel measures eight substances in your blood and gives an overall view of your health.
  • Fasting glucose test: A BMP includes a blood glucose reading, but if you didn’t fast for the BMP, your provider may have you get a blood test that checks your blood sugar after fasting for eight to 12 hours.

If you have at least three of the five criteria based on the results of these tests and the exam, you’ll have metabolic syndrome.

These blood tests are typically routine tests. So, your provider may tell you that you have metabolic syndrome (or are at risk for certain health conditions) after routine tests.

How is metabolic syndrome treated?

The main goals of treating metabolic syndrome are to lower your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes if you don’t already have them. Treatment can involve medications and/or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes to manage metabolic syndrome

Lifestyle changes are key to managing the conditions that contribute to metabolic syndrome. Changes include:

  • Maintaining or working toward a weight that’s healthy for you: Your healthcare provider may recommend trying to lose excess weight. One study revealed that losing 7% of excess weight can reduce the onset of Type 2 diabetes by 58%.
  • Getting regular exercise: Physical activity has numerous benefits. It helps combat insulin resistance, can help keep your cardiovascular system healthy and may help you lose weight if needed. Any increase in physical activity is helpful. But before starting an exercise program, ask your provider about what level of physical activity is right for you.
  • Eating heart-healthy foods: Your provider or nutritionist may recommend avoiding eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates (which stimulate excess insulin production) and eating less unhealthy fat, sugar, red meats and processed starches. Instead, they’ll likely recommend eating a diet of whole foods that includes more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean poultry. The Mediterranean diet is one example of a heart-healthy diet.
  • Getting quality sleep: Quality sleep is vital to overall health. A lack of sleep and sleeping disorders (like sleep apnea) can worsen metabolic syndrome or contribute to its development. If you’re having problems sleeping, talk to your healthcare provider. They can do tests and suggest treatments or changes to your sleeping routine.
  • Avoiding or quitting smoking: Smoking can decrease your HDL cholesterol and increase blood pressure. It also damages your blood vessels, which can lead to coronary artery disease. If you smoke, try to quit.
  • Managing stress: High levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) over long periods of time can increase triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure. Find strategies to manage your stress, like exercise, yoga, mindfulness or breathing exercises.

Medications and treatments for managing metabolic syndrome

Various medications and treatments can help manage the conditions that contribute to metabolic syndrome. They include:

  • Cholesterol medications: Statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) are prescription medicines that people take to bring their cholesterol down to healthy levels.
  • Blood pressure medications: These medications (antihypertensives) are prescription medicines that bring your blood pressure down in various ways. Examples include thiazide, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.
  • Oral diabetes medications: These medications work in various ways to lower your blood sugar. The most common medication is metformin, a biguanide.
  • Bariatric surgery: Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is a category of surgical operations intended to help people with obesity lose weight. Your provider may recommend bariatric surgery if other weight loss methods haven’t worked and if obesity poses a greater risk to your health than surgery.
  • Sleeping disorder treatments: If you have a sleeping disorder, certain treatments can help, like a CPAP machine for sleep apnea or sleeping pills for insomnia.
  • Psychotherapy: “Psychotherapy” (talk therapy) is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy may help you manage stress or understand and change unhealthy behaviors related to eating, for example.

Can you reverse metabolic syndrome?

Yes, it’s possible to reverse metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle changes can do a lot to improve your health. Medications can help as well. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the best plan for you.

What are the possible complications of metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome can lead to a wide range of complications, including:

The good news is that it’s possible to reverse metabolic syndrome with lifestyle changes and medications. The sooner you can make changes to protect your health, the better.

Can I prevent metabolic syndrome?

You can’t change all the factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome, like your genetics and age. But the lifestyle changes that can help treat metabolic syndrome are the same steps that can help prevent it.

If you have a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, be sure to tell your healthcare provider.

It’s also important to schedule routine provider visits. Your provider can keep track of your cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The sooner they can catch any issues, the sooner they can recommend lifestyle changes and treatments to reduce your risk.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you have metabolic syndrome, it’s important to get ongoing care. You should see your healthcare provider for the following:

  • To monitor the condition: You may need to measure your blood pressure regularly or have routine blood tests to monitor your triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Be sure to keep all of your healthcare appointments.
  • For questions about your treatment plan: Tell your provider if you have side effects from your medications or if you want to stop taking them. Also, ask any questions about lifestyle changes, like diet or exercise plans.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

You may be overwhelmed to learn you have metabolic syndrome. Know that there are several strategies to manage or reverse it. Your healthcare provider will be with you every step of the way. Lean on them for support and advice. They’re available to help you.

PREDIABETES

Prediabetes is a warning of Type 2 diabetes. It means your blood sugar levels are elevated but not enough to be Type 2 diabetes. There are lifestyle changes you can make to manage or reverse prediabetes, like getting more physical activity and adjusting eating patterns and habits.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes happens when you have elevated blood sugar levels, but they’re not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.

Healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels are 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If you have undiagnosed prediabetes, your levels are typically 100 to 125 mg/dL.

According to the American Diabetes Association, for people 45 years old with prediabetes, the 10-year risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is 9% to 14%. The good news is that it’s possible to reverse prediabetes with healthy lifestyle changes.

How common is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is very common. Researchers estimate that 84 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes. It affects more than 1 in 3 adults under age 65 and half of people over 65 in the U.S.

More than 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it, as it often has no symptoms.

What are the symptoms of prediabetes?

Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms. This is why it’s important to see your primary care provider regularly so they can do screenings, like a basic metabolic panel, to check on your blood sugar levels. This is the only way to know if you have prediabetes.

For the few people who do experience symptoms of prediabetes, they may include:

What causes prediabetes?

The cause of prediabetes is the same as the cause of Type 2 diabetes — mainly, insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Insulin is a hormone your pancreas makes that’s essential for life and regulating blood sugar levels. When you don’t have enough insulin or your body doesn’t respond properly to it, you experience elevated blood sugar levels.

Several factors can contribute to insulin resistance, including:

What are the risk factors for prediabetes?

Risk factors for prediabetes include:

Race and ethnicity are also factors. You’re at increased risk if you are:

  • Black.
  • Hispanic/Latino American.
  • Native American.
  • Pacific Islander.
  • Asian American.

Some of these risk factors you can’t change, like your age and family history (genetics). But others, like physical inactivity and smoking, you can help improve. The more of these risk factors you have, the more likely prediabetes is around the corner — or you already have it.

It’s important to talk to your primary care provider about screening for prediabetes. While it might be mentally easier to avoid finding out, knowing and taking action are very valuable to your long-term health.

What are the possible complications of prediabetes?

The main complication of prediabetes is it developing into Type 2 diabetes. Undiagnosed or undermanaged Type 2 diabetes increases your risk of several complications, like:

While it’s possible to reverse prediabetes, it’s typically not possible to reverse diabetes complications. This is why prevention and/or proper management are key.

How is prediabetes diagnosed?

Healthcare providers rely on routine blood test screenings to check for prediabetes. If you have risk factors for prediabetes, your provider may recommend these screenings more often.

The following tests can check for prediabetes:

  • Fasting plasma glucose test: This tests your blood after you haven’t had anything to eat or drink except water for at least eight hours beforehand (fasted). Basic metabolic panels and comprehensive metabolic panels include a glucose test. Providers routinely order these to get an overall look at your health.
  • A1C test: This test provides your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.

Your provider would diagnose you with prediabetes if your:

  • Fasting plasma glucose test result is 100 to 125 mg/dL (normal is less than 100; diabetes is 126 or higher).
  • A1C result is 5.7% to 6.4% (normal is less than 5.7%; diabetes is 6.5% or higher).

The best way to treat — and potentially reverse — prediabetes is through healthy lifestyle changes. Regularly eating nutritious foods and getting regular exercise can help return your blood sugar to healthy levels and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.

Even small changes can significantly lower your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, like:

  • Weight loss: Your healthcare provider may recommend trying to lose excess weight to combat insulin resistance and prediabetes. One study revealed that losing 7% of weight can reduce the onset of Type 2 diabetes by 58%.
  • Regular activity: Getting regular amounts of moderate-intensity physical activity helps increase glucose usage and improve muscle insulin sensitivity. A single session of moderate-intensity exercise can increase glucose uptake from your blood and into your muscles by at least 40%. This helps lower blood sugar levels. Aim for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for a total of 150 minutes a week. Try walking or another activity you enjoy.
  • Eating changes: Cutting out added sugars, swapping simple carbohydrates for complex carbohydrates and eating more veggies can help your blood sugar return to healthy levels. Your provider will help you find which long-term diet for prediabetes is best for you.

Lowering your risk factors for prediabetes can often get your blood sugar levels back to healthy levels. You might:

There are many programs available to help people live healthy lives and reverse prediabetes. To find a plan that works for you, talk to your provider or find resources through the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Can you take medication for prediabetes?

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend taking certain oral diabetes medications. This is more likely if lifestyle changes haven’t helped improve your blood sugar levels and/or you have multiple risk factors for Type 2 diabetes.

The most common medications providers prescribe for prediabetes are metformin and acarbose.

What can I expect if I have prediabetes?

If you receive a prediabetes diagnosis, you’ll need to make lifestyle changes to manage or reverse it. This can be overwhelming. But taking it one step at a time can lead you closer to better health.

Without taking action, many people with prediabetes eventually develop Type 2 diabetes. This is often because people don’t know they have prediabetes.

Can I prevent prediabetes?

The strategies for preventing prediabetes are the same as for reversing it and preventing Type 2 diabetes:

  • Exercising regularly.
  • Maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Eating nutritious food.
  • Not smoking.

Unfortunately, some people have such strong genetic risk factors that even lifestyle changes aren’t enough to prevent developing prediabetes.

How do I take care of myself if I have prediabetes?

Aside from following your healthcare team’s medical guidance for treating prediabetes, there are other things you can do to help make life with prediabetes a little easier, including:

  • Educate yourself: Diabetes is complex, and many things affect blood sugar levels. Do your best to educate yourself on prediabetes and diabetes from reliable sources. And don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider questions.
  • Educate family and friends: The more your loved ones know about prediabetes and the changes you’re making to help your health, the more they can support you in this journey.
  • Take care of your mental health: A prediabetes diagnosis can make you feel all sorts of emotions, especially because of the widespread stigma and misunderstanding about diabetes. If prediabetes is causing you distress, consider seeing a mental health professional, like a psychologist.

It’s also important to remember:

  • Changing habits is difficult. It likely won’t be a straightforward path to healthier habits. This is OK and expected.
  • Focus on one goal or healthy change at a time. Too many changes at once can be overwhelming.
  • Value progress over perfection. Any positive change is helpful change.
  • Be kind to yourself.

If you still develop prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes despite making healthy changes, try not to be hard on yourself. Type 2 diabetes isn’t a disease of a lack of willpower. It involves many complex mechanisms. And the healthy changes you’ve made are still helping protect your health.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

It’s important to see your healthcare provider regularly if you have prediabetes or are at increased risk for it. Even if your management plan is currently working, your needs and body may change. So, it’s important to check in with your provider consistently. They’ll let you know how frequently to have appointments.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about prediabetes?

It can be helpful to ask these questions:

  • How can I lower my risk for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes?
  • What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?
  • What’s a healthy and realistic weight for me to aim for?
  • What are some healthy ways to lose weight and keep it off?
  • How much physical activity should I do and what kind is best for me?
  • What changes can I make to my eating patterns to help prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes?
  • Should I see a registered dietitian? If so, who do you recommend?
  • Can you refer me to a diabetes prevention program nearby or online?
  • Are there any local support groups for people with prediabetes or diabetes?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

When it comes to prediabetes, knowledge is power. This includes knowing if you have prediabetes and knowing how to make changes to reverse or curb it. While it may be overwhelming to receive this diagnosis, know that your healthcare team will be beside you every step of the way to guide you toward healthy changes.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Eating healthy, well-balanced foods and getting exercise can usually keep it well managed. But sometimes, insulin is necessary to help you manage blood sugar levels. If left untreated, it can cause health problems for both you and the fetus.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes (GD or GDM) is a type of diabetes that develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels get too high (hyperglycemia). It happens when the hormones from the placenta block your ability to use or make insulin. Insulin helps your body maintain the right amount of glucose in your blood. Too much glucose in your blood can lead to pregnancy complications. GD usually appears during the middle of pregnancy, between 24 and 28 weeks. Your pregnancy care provider will order a blood test to check for gestational diabetes.

Developing GD doesn’t mean you already had diabetes before you got pregnant. The condition appears because of pregnancy. People with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes before pregnancy have their own, separate challenges when they become pregnant.

Fortunately, gestational diabetes is well understood, and healthcare providers are usually able to help you manage the condition with small lifestyle and dietary changes. Most people don’t experience serious complications from gestational diabetes and deliver healthy babies.

What happens if you get gestational diabetes?

If you have gestational diabetes, your pregnancy care provider will have you visit a nutritionist who specializes in gestational diabetes. At this appointment, you’ll talk about how certain foods typically increase blood sugar levels and how to make sure your meals and snacks contain the right types and amounts of food.

They’ll also talk to you about checking or testing your blood sugar at home, and what your levels should be after meals.

Finally, your obstetrician or nutritionist will discuss a gestational diabetes management plan. People with diabetes typically have more prenatal visits to check on fetal growth, monitor their weight gain and discuss how well they’re managing their blood sugar.

Rate of gestational diabetes U.S. and worldwide

The rate of gestational diabetes in the United States is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 8% to 10% of pregnant women will develop GD.

The rate of gestational diabetes worldwide, on average, is between 14% and 17%. Other factors can contribute to rates being higher, such as age, race/ethnicity, access to prenatal care and geography.

What causes gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes comes from hormonal changes and the way your body converts food into energy.

A hormone called insulin breaks down the glucose (sugar) from food and delivers it to your cells. Insulin keeps the level of glucose in your blood at a healthy level. But if insulin doesn’t work right or you don’t have enough of it, sugar builds up in your blood and leads to diabetes.

During pregnancy, hormones from the placenta can interfere with the way insulin works. It may not regulate your blood sugar levels like it’s supposed to, which can lead to gestational diabetes.

Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?

Anyone can get gestational diabetes during pregnancy. But certain factors can increase your risk. They include:

People over the age of 25 who are of South and East Asian, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Island descent are also at a higher risk.

What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?

There are usually no obvious warning signs of gestational diabetes. Symptoms are mild and often go unnoticed until your pregnancy care provider tests you for gestational diabetes.

If you do have symptoms, they may include:

What are complications of unmanaged gestational diabetes?

Being unable to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range can lead to complications for both you and the fetus.

Gestational diabetes increases your risk of:

People with gestational diabetes are slightly more likely to have Type 2 diabetes later in life.

How does gestational diabetes affect my baby?

If you have gestational diabetes, your baby’s more at risk for:

When does a healthcare provider test for gestational diabetes?

Your healthcare provider tests for gestational diabetes around weeks 24 to 28 of your pregnancy. Most healthcare experts believe this is the best time to get the most accurate results. But your provider may screen you for gestational diabetes a little earlier, especially if you have risk factors for the condition.

How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will test your blood sugar during pregnancy with a blood test. Often, the first test is a “screening,” which means it identifies people who are more likely to have gestational diabetes. If you don’t pass the screening, your provider will order a second blood test which is more comprehensive.

Glucose challenge test: This test is sometimes called a glucose screening test or a one-hour glucose tolerance test. You drink a sweet liquid and wait in a waiting room for one hour. After one hour, a healthcare provider will draw a blood sample from your arm. If your blood sugar is too high, your healthcare provider will order a glucose tolerance test.

Glucose tolerance test: This test is sometimes called a two-hour or three-hour glucose test. This test is only done if your challenge test results are irregular. You fast (don’t eat for eight hours) before the tolerance test. Your healthcare provider draws your blood before and at one-, two- and/or three-hour intervals after you drink a sweet liquid. The tolerance test can confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

How is gestational diabetes managed?

If you have gestational diabetes, you’ll need more frequent checkups during your pregnancy. Your pregnancy care provider will want to:

  • Monitor the growth of the fetus. This typically involves having a few extra ultrasounds where they’ll make sure the fetus isn’t getting too large.
  • Review your blood sugar ranges. Most of the time, this involves discussing how often your blood sugar is high or low and looking at general trends in your blood sugar levels.

To keep track of your blood sugar at home, you’ll need a tool called a glucose meter. You’ll need the monitor itself, as well as needles (or lancets) and test strips. Taking your blood sugar involves pricking the tip of your finger with the lancet and then wiping the blood on a test strip. Then, you insert the test strip into the meter. After a few seconds, the device will display a number. This is your blood sugar level. Your nutritionist or diabetes educator will go over how to use the device. It may take a few days to get the hang of it, but your provider is always available to help you if you need it.

You’ll have to record your meals and blood sugar readings on paper, on an app or whatever way your provider wants you to. Then, your pregnancy care provider will review your readings at regular intervals (often weekly or biweekly). Sometimes, your provider will need to adjust your food (like decreasing the amount of carbs you eat) to keep your glucose levels well managed. The combination of tracking your blood sugar levels and eating diabetes-friendly food is usually enough to manage gestational diabetes.

Some people need medication such as insulin to manage gestational diabetes. This usually involves injecting insulin into your stomach, thigh or buttocks every day or multiple times a day. How frequently you need to inject insulin depends on many factors. Your healthcare provider will teach you how to inject insulin, when to take it and how much to take. If you need to use insulin to manage diabetes, it’s important to take it exactly as your provider prescribes.

Blood sugar levels

You typically record your glucose levels right when you wake up (before eating anything) and then about one hour after each meal. For example, you may take your blood sugar upon waking up at 6:15 a.m. Then, if you eat breakfast at 7 a.m., you’d take your blood sugar level around 8 a.m. You record the numbers in whatever way you and your provider have agreed on.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists typically recommends the following ranges for blood glucose levels:

  • Before a meal: 95 milligrams (mg)/dL or less. (Mg/dL stands for milligrams per decilitre.)
  • One hour after a meal: 140 mg/dL or less.
  • Two hours after a meal: 120 mg/dL or less.

As always, everyone is unique, and these are only guidelines. Your pregnancy care provider will discuss what your blood sugar range should be.

What shouldn’t you eat with gestational diabetes?

You can help manage gestational diabetes by eating nutritious foods that don’t cause your blood sugar to rise to unsafe levels. Try to:

  • Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.
  • Choose a healthy balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and fat for each meal.
  • Eat smaller meals more often.
  • Schedule your meals at the same time each day.

Some people with gestational diabetes find that small tweaks to what they usually eat are all that’s necessary to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Still, some find that they have to make more changes. It’s important to keep in mind that some people may be able to eat certain foods without a large impact on blood sugar, but you may not be able to. Remind yourself that everyone is different and unique.

Does drinking water lower blood sugar with gestational diabetes?

Hydration is important during pregnancy, especially if you have gestational diabetes. But there are no studies that show drinking water alone will directly lower blood sugar.

Staying hydrated does help your body regulate your blood sugar, though. It helps dilute your blood, which makes it easier for your kidneys to get rid of excess sugar. Water can also help your body use insulin more effectively, which also contributes to regulating blood sugar.

How can I exercise safely with gestational diabetes?

Exercise helps your body use more glucose, which may lower your blood sugar. If you have gestational diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider about creating a safe exercise plan. Your exercise plan should be unique to your overall health and your fitness level before pregnancy.

How can you reverse gestational diabetes while pregnant?

You can’t reverse gestational diabetes once you have it. Your provider will test you for diabetes after your baby is born (usually between six and 12 weeks postpartum) to see if you still have it.

How worried should I be about gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a common condition and healthcare providers have a good idea of how best to manage and treat it. You’ll still have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby if you have gestational diabetes. Work with your healthcare provider to make sure you understand your treatment plan and how you can keep your blood sugar levels healthy.

Take time to understand the possible complications of not managing gestational diabetes. Your baby has a very good chance of being born healthy, but you must take steps to manage the condition. If your blood sugar levels are high several readings in a row, don’t wait to contact your provider. Let them know that your blood sugar levels are repeatedly high so they can adjust your foods or medication and help you. Gestational diabetes is manageable, but there’s a level of responsibility you must take to ensure your pregnancy is healthy.

Will gestational diabetes go away after pregnancy?

Your blood sugar levels should come down after you give birth, when your hormone levels return to normal. Your pregnancy care provider will test you for gestational diabetes after your baby is born to confirm it’s gone (usually around six to 12 weeks postpartum).

But about 50% of people with gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. Eating the right foods for your body and getting physical activity can help lower your risk. Your healthcare provider may recommend blood glucose tests every few years to watch for diabetes, especially if you have one or more risk factors.

Does having gestational diabetes make a pregnancy high risk?

Yes, having gestational diabetes may make your pregnancy high risk. Healthcare providers consider a pregnancy high risk when either you or the fetus (or both) has health conditions that increase your chances of having a pregnancy complication.

Will my baby be healthy if I have gestational diabetes?

Yes. Most babies born are born healthy. There are some steps you can take to manage gestational diabetes during pregnancy to give your child the best start in life. Attending all your prenatal appointments and managing diabetes the best you can during pregnancy are the two best things you can do.

How can gestational diabetes be prevented?

It’s not entirely preventable, but you can take steps to reduce your risk. Eating balanced and nutritious meals and getting regular exercise before and during your pregnancy are the best ways to reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes.

What can I do to make living with gestational diabetes easier?

Make diabetes management part of your daily routine. Create a schedule and stick to it. Try to:

  • Check your blood glucose levels at the same time each day.
  • Choose three days each week to get 30 minutes of light exercise.
  • Plan small, balanced meals ahead of time.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider or a diabetes educator about other tips for daily diabetes management.

When should I see my healthcare provider if I have gestational diabetes?

Even if you’re being careful to manage your condition, there may be situations where you need to call your pregnancy care provider. Contact your provider if you have gestational diabetes and:

  • You’re having trouble managing blood sugar levels. This means your blood sugar levels are higher than the range your provider gave you for several readings in a row. They may want to adjust your diabetes management plan.
  • Your blood sugar is consistently low. Having low blood sugar can be a bad thing, too. Your provider may have ideas to help your blood sugar stay in a healthier range.
  • You have an illness that prevents you from following your management plan. For example, you may have food poisoning or be vomiting for another reason. Being unable to eat will affect your blood sugar levels.

Can you eat healthy and still get gestational diabetes?

Yes, you can get gestational diabetes even if you ate healthy before or during pregnancy. There are several other factors that go into your risk of getting diabetes. Things like hormones and genetics play a major role and those factors are beyond your control.

But if you have gestational diabetes, eating healthy, nutritious foods is one of the best ways to manage the condition throughout your pregnancy.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Your pregnancy care provider just told you that you “failed” your glucose test and that you have gestational diabetes. A million questions may be crossing your mind. Did I cause this? Do I need to prick my finger the rest of my pregnancy? Will my baby be born healthy? These questions (and others) are normal to have. Fortunately, healthcare providers have a good understanding of gestational diabetes and how to help you manage it.

Most people can manage gestational diabetes with small changes to what they eat. A nutritionist or diabetes educator can help you with that. Still, some people need a medication called insulin to help keep their blood sugar in check. In most cases, well-managed gestational diabetes doesn’t have a major impact on your pregnancy. But you have to play an active role in managing the condition to make sure your pregnancy and your baby are healthy.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes happens when your body can’t use insulin properly. Without treatment, Type 2 diabetes can cause various health problems, like heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. You can manage this disease by making lifestyle changes, taking medications and seeing your healthcare provider for regular check-ins.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that happens when you have persistently high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).

Healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels are 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If you have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, your levels are typically 126 mg/dL or higher.

T2D happens because your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin (a hormone), your body doesn’t use insulin properly, or both. This is different from Type 1 diabetes, which happens when an autoimmune attack on your pancreas results in a total lack of insulin production.

How common is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is very common. More than 37 million people in the U.S. have diabetes (about 1 in 10 people), and about 90% to 95% of them have T2D.

Researchers estimate that T2D affects about 6.3% of the world’s population. T2D most commonly affects adults over 45, but people younger than 45 can have it as well, including children.

What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes tend to develop slowly over time. They can include:

Women may experience frequent vaginal yeast infections and/or urinary tract infections (UTIs).

If you have these symptoms, it’s important to see your healthcare provider. Simple blood tests can diagnose T2D.

What causes Type 2 diabetes?

The main cause of Type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Insulin is a hormone your pancreas makes that’s essential for life and regulating blood sugar levels.

If your body isn’t responding to insulin properly, your pancreas has to make more insulin to try to overcome your increasing blood glucose levels (hyperinsulinemia). If your cells become too resistant to insulin and your pancreas can’t make enough insulin to overcome it, it leads to Type 2 diabetes.

Several factors can contribute to insulin resistance, including:

Is Type 2 diabetes genetic?

The cause of T2D is complex, but researchers know that genetics play a strong role. Your lifetime risk of developing T2D is 40% if you have one biological parent with T2D and 70% if both of your biological parents have it.

Researchers have identified at least 150 DNA variations linked to the risk of developing T2D — some increase your risk and others decrease it. Some of these variations may directly play a role in insulin resistance and insulin production. Others may increase your risk of T2D by increasing your tendency to have overweight or obesity.

These genetic variations likely act together with health and lifestyle factors to influence your overall risk of T2D.

What are the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes?

You’re more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you:

As T2D symptoms typically come on slowly, it’s important to see your primary care provider regularly if you’re at risk for the condition. This way, they can do screenings, like a basic metabolic panel (BMP), to check on your blood sugar levels. It’s better to catch T2D earlier rather than later.

How is Type 2 diabetes diagnosed?

The following blood tests help your healthcare provider diagnose Type 2 diabetes:

  • Fasting plasma glucose test: This lab test checks your blood sugar level. You typically need to get this test in the morning after an eight-hour fast (nothing to eat or drink except water). A result of 126 mg/dL or higher means you have diabetes.
  • Random plasma glucose test: This lab test also checks your blood sugar, but you can get it at any time without fasting. A result of 200 mg/dL or higher means you have diabetes.
  • A1C test: This lab test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. A result of 6.5% or higher means you have diabetes.

In some cases, your provider may order an autoantibody blood test to see if you have Type 1 Diabetes instead of T2D.

What is the treatment for Type 2 diabetes?

Unlike many health conditions, you mainly manage T2D on your own with medical guidance and support from your healthcare team. This could include your:

Your team should also include family members and other important people in your life. Managing T2D can be challenging — you have to make several decisions every day for it. But everything you do to improve your health is worth it.

The core features of Type 2 diabetes management include:

  • Lifestyle changes, like more exercise and eating adjustments.
  • Blood sugar monitoring.
  • Medication.

Exercise for Type 2 diabetes

Regular activity is important for everyone. It’s even more important if you have diabetes. Exercise is good for your health because it:

  • Lowers your blood sugar level without medication in the short term and long term.
  • Burns calories and may help with weight loss.
  • Improves blood flow and blood pressure.
  • Increases your energy level and boosts your mood.
  • Helps with stress management.

Talk to your provider before starting any exercise program. You may need to take special steps before, during and after physical activity, especially if you take insulin. The general goal is to get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes diet

Ask your healthcare provider or registered dietitian to recommend a meal plan that’s right for you. What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat are all important in keeping your blood sugar levels in the range that your healthcare team recommends.

The key to eating with Type 2 diabetes is to eat a variety of nutritious foods from all food groups, in the amounts your meal plan outlines. In general, these types of foods can help support healthy blood sugar levels:

  • Lean proteins, like chicken, eggs, fish and turkey.
  • Non-starchy vegetables, like broccoli, green beans, salad greens and cucumbers.
  • Healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, natural peanut butter and olive oil.
  • Complex carbohydrates, like beans, berries, sweet potatoes and whole-wheat bread.

Blood sugar monitoring

Monitoring your blood sugar is essential to finding out how well your current treatment plan is working. It gives you information on how to manage diabetes on a daily — and sometimes even hourly — basis. The results of blood sugar monitoring can help you make decisions about food, physical activity and dosing insulin.

Several things can affect your blood sugar. You can learn to predict some of these impacts with time and practice, while others are very difficult or impossible to predict. That’s why it’s important to check your blood sugar regularly if your healthcare provider recommends doing so.

There are two main ways you can monitor your blood sugar at home if you have diabetes:

You may choose either or both methods for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • Your access to the technology, which can vary due to cost and medical insurance coverage.
  • How often your healthcare provider recommends checking your blood sugar.
  • The medications you’re taking.
  • Your overall health.

Type 2 diabetes medications

Your healthcare provider may recommend taking medication, in addition to lifestyle changes, to manage Type 2 diabetes. These include:

  • Oral diabetes medications: These are medications that you take by mouth to help manage blood sugar levels in people who have T2D but still produce some insulin. There are several types. The most commonly prescribed one is metformin. Your provider may prescribe more than one oral diabetes medication at a time to achieve the best blood glucose management.
  • GLP-1 and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists: These are injectable medications that mainly help manage blood sugar levels in people with T2D. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity.
  • Insulin: Synthetic insulin directly lowers blood sugar levels. There are several types of insulin, like long-acting and short-acting types. You may inject it with syringes or pens, use inhaled insulin, or use an insulin pump.
  • Other medications: You may take other medications to manage coexisting conditions, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Can Type 2 diabetes be reversed?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic (long-term) disease, which means you must manage it for the rest of your life. There’s no cure for T2D. But you can manage it — with lifestyle changes, medication and blood sugar monitoring — in a way that keeps your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. If you stop managing it or undermanage it, your blood sugar levels will go back up.

What is the outlook for Type 2 diabetes?

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your outlook depends on several factors, like:

  • Your age at diagnosis.
  • How often and how well you’re able to keep your blood sugar levels in range.
  • If you have other conditions, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
  • Your access to healthcare, diabetes management tools and medication, nutritious foods and support from loved ones.

Untreated or undermanaged T2D can lead to a range of health conditions.

What are the complications of Type 2 diabetes?

As your blood touches virtually every part of your body, having undermanaged Type 2 diabetes that results in continuous high blood sugar over a long period of time can damage several areas of your body.

Potential complications of Type 2 diabetes include:

Cardiovascular disease, including:

Eye conditions, including:

Additional complications include:

Short-term complications of T2D

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is a life-threatening complication of Type 2 diabetes. HHS happens when your blood sugar levels are too high for a long period, leading to severe dehydration and confusion.

Symptoms of HHS usually come on slowly and can take days or weeks to develop. Symptoms include:

  • Very high blood sugar level (over 600 mg/dL).
  • Mental changes, such as confusion, delirium or experiencing hallucinations.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Dry mouth and extreme thirst.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Blurred vision or loss of vision.
  • Weakness or paralysis that may be worse on one side of your body.

HHS is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency services number.

Can I prevent Type 2 diabetes?

Certain strategies can help lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or delay its onset, including:

  • Exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes a week).
  • Maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Eating nutritious food.
  • Not smoking.

Unfortunately, some people have such strong genetic risk factors that even lifestyle changes aren’t enough to prevent developing T2D.

How do I take care of myself if I have Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition that requires daily management, effort and planning. Some tips that can help you manage T2D include:

  • Try to stick to healthy lifestyle changes: Regular exercise and healthy eating plans are core parts of T2D management. Set small goals and make one change at a time to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
  • Check your blood sugar regularly Checking your blood sugar with a fingerstick and meter and/or using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is crucial to managing diabetes and preventing complications. Follow your provider’s guidance for how often you should be checking it.
  • Take your medication regularly: Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking your medications (if applicable).
  • See your diabetes provider regularly: It’s important to see the provider who helps you manage T2D regularly to be sure that your management plan is working. Don’t be afraid to ask them specific questions.
  • See your other providers regularly, especially your eye doctor: Type 2 diabetes can cause complications in various areas of your body, but especially your eyes. It’s important to see your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) at least yearly so that they can check the health of your eyes.
  • Have a sick day plan: Talk with your diabetes provider about how to take care of yourself and manage T2D when you’re sick. Illness can make it more difficult to manage blood sugar levels and can trigger HHS.
  • Stay educated: Don’t be afraid to ask your provider questions about T2D. The more you know about T2D and your management, the more likely you’ll be able to live healthily and prevent complications.
  • Find community: Connecting with other people who have T2D — whether in-person or online — can help you feel less alone.
  • Take care of your mental health: People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have depression and are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety than those without diabetes. Living with a chronic condition that requires constant care can be overwhelming. It’s important to talk to a mental health professional if you’re experiencing signs of depression and/or anxiety.

When should I see my healthcare provider if I have Type 2 diabetes?

You’ll need to have regular appointments with your healthcare team to be sure you’re on track with your T2D management plan. As your body, life and routines change, your management will need to, as well. Your healthcare team can provide new strategies that are unique to your needs.

If you develop symptoms of any diabetes complications, be sure to see your provider as soon as possible.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Type 2 diabetes involves constant day-to-day care and management. While it’ll likely be very overwhelming at first, over time you’ll get a better grasp on how to manage the condition and how to be in tune with your body.

Be sure to see your healthcare team regularly. Managing Type 2 diabetes involves a team effort — you’ll want both medical professionals and friends and family on your side. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you need help.

TYPE 1 DIABETES

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (life-long) autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin. It requires daily management with insulin injections and blood sugar monitoring. Both children and adults can be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (life-long) autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin.

Insulin is an important hormone that regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Under normal circumstances, insulin functions in the following steps:

  • Your body breaks down the food you eat into glucose (sugar), which is your body’s main source of energy.
  • Glucose enters your bloodstream, which signals your pancreas to release insulin.
  • Insulin helps glucose in your blood enter your muscle, fat and liver cells so they can use it for energy or store it for later use.
  • When glucose enters your cells and the levels in your bloodstream decrease, it signals your pancreas to stop producing insulin.

If you don’t have enough insulin, too much sugar builds up in your blood, causing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and your body can’t use the food you eat for energy. This can lead to serious health problems or even death if it’s not treated. People with Type 1 diabetes need synthetic insulin every day in order to live and be healthy.

Type 1 diabetes was previously known as juvenile diabetes and insulin-dependent diabetes.

What is the difference between Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes?

While Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are both forms of diabetes mellitus (as opposed to diabetes insipidus) that lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), they are distinct from each other.

In Type 2 diabetes (T2D), your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin and/or your body doesn’t always use that insulin as it should — usually due to insulin resistance. Lifestyle factors, including obesity and a lack of exercise, can contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes as well as genetic factors.

In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make any insulin. It’s caused by an autoimmune reaction.

Type 2 diabetes usually affects older adults, though it’s becoming more common in children. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but people of any age can get it.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 diabetes.

Who does Type 1 diabetes affect?

Anyone at any age can develop Type 1 diabetes (T1D), though the most common age at diagnosis is between the ages of 4 to 6 and in early puberty (10 to 14 years).

In the United States, people who are non-Hispanic white are most likely to get Type 1 diabetes, and it affects females and males almost equally.

While you don’t have to have a family member with Type 1 diabetes to develop the condition, having a first-degree family member (parent or sibling) with Type 1 diabetes increases your risk of developing it.

How common is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is relatively common. In the United States, approximately 1.24 million people live with Type 1 diabetes, and that number is expected to grow to five million by 2050.

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases that affect children in the United States, though adults can be diagnosed with the disease as well.

What are the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes?

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes typically start mild and get progressively worse or more intense, which could happen over several days, weeks or months. This is because your pancreas makes less and less insulin.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include:

If you or your child has these symptoms, it’s essential to see your healthcare provider and ask to be tested for Type 1 diabetes as soon as possible. The sooner you’re diagnosed, the better.

If a diagnosis is delayed, untreated Type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening due to a complication called diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA). Seek emergency medical care if you or your child are experiencing any combination of the following symptoms:

What causes Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes develops when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys cells in your pancreas that make insulin. This destruction can happen over months or years, ultimately resulting in a total lack (deficiency) of insulin.

Although scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes, they believe there’s a strong genetic component. The risk of developing the disease with no family history is approximately 0.4%. If your biological mother has Type 1 diabetes, your risk is 1% to 4%, and your risk is 3% to 8% if your biological father has it. If both of your biological parents have Type 1 diabetes, your risk of developing the condition is as high as 30%.

Scientists believe that certain factors, such as a virus or environmental toxins, can trigger your immune system to attack cells in your pancreas if you have a genetic predisposition for developing Type 1 diabetes.

How is Type 1 diabetes diagnosed?

Type 1 diabetes is relatively simple to diagnose. If you or your child has symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, your healthcare provider will order the following tests:

  • Blood glucose test: Your healthcare provider uses a blood glucose test to check the amount of sugar in your blood. They may ask you to do a random test (without fasting) and a fasting test (no food or drink for at least eight hours before the test). If the result shows that you have very high blood sugar, it typically means you have Type 1 diabetes.
  • Glycosylated hemoglobin test (A1c): If blood glucose test results indicate that you have diabetes, your healthcare provider may do an A1c test. This measures your average blood sugar levels over three months.
  • Antibody test: This blood test checks for autoantibodies to determine if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Autoantibodies are proteins that attack your body’s tissue by mistake. The presence of certain autoantibodies means you have Type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies usually aren’t present in people who have Type 2 diabetes.

Your provider will also likely order the following tests to assess your overall health and to check if you have diabetes-related ketoacidosis, a serious acute complication of undiagnosed or untreated Type 1 diabetes:

  • Basic metabolic panel: This is a blood sample test that measures eight different substances in your blood. The panel provides helpful information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism.
  • Urinalysis: A urinalysis (also known as a urine test) is a test that examines the visual, chemical and microscopic aspects of your urine (pee). Providers use it to measure several different aspects of your urine. In the case of a Type 1 diagnosis, they’ll likely order the test to check for ketones, which is a substance your body releases when it has to break down fat for energy instead of using glucose. A high amount of ketones causes your blood to become acidic, which can be life-threatening.
  • Arterial blood gas: An arterial blood gas (ABG) test is a blood test that requires a sample from an artery in your body to measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood.

What kind of doctor treats Type 1 diabetes?

An endocrinologist — a healthcare provider who specializes in treating hormone-related conditions — treats people who have Type 1 diabetes. Some endocrinologists specialize in diabetes.

If your child has Type 1 diabetes, they’ll need to see a pediatric endocrinologist.

You’ll need to see your endocrinologist regularly to ensure that your Type 1 diabetes management is working well. Your insulin needs will change throughout your life.

How is Type 1 diabetes treated?

People with Type 1 diabetes need synthetic insulin every day, multiple times a day in order to live and be healthy. They also need to try to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.

Since several factors affect your blood sugar level, Type 1 diabetes management is complex and highly individualized.

Three of the main components of Type 1 diabetes management include:

  • Insulin.
  • Blood glucose (sugar) monitoring.
  • Carbohydrate counting.

Insulin for Type 1 diabetes management

There are several different types of synthetic insulin. They each start to work at different speeds, and they last in your body for different lengths of time. You may need to use more than one type.

Some types of inulin are more expensive than others. Work with your endocrinologist to find the right type of insulin for your needs.

The amount of insulin you need throughout the day depends on several factors including:

  • Your weight.
  • Your age.
  • Your physical activity level.
  • The types of food you eat.
  • Your blood sugar (glucose) level at any given time.

Along with a background level of insulin (often called a basal rate), you’ll need to give yourself specific amounts of insulin when you eat and to correct high blood sugar levels.

You can take insulin in the following ways:

  • Multiple daily injections (MDI): Injectable insulin uses a vial and syringe. With each injection, you use a syringe to get the correct dose of insulin out of the vial. You can inject the insulin into the fatty tissue of your belly, upper arm, thigh or buttocks. Injections are usually the least expensive way to take insulin.
  • Pen: Insulin pens are similar to injections, but the pen is pre-filled with insulin. The disposable pen needles are usually more convenient than syringes. They can also be a good option for people with low vision.
  • Pump: Insulin pumps are devices that deliver insulin continuously and on demand. They mimic the way your pancreas would naturally release insulin. Pumps deliver insulin through a tiny catheter (thin, flexible tube) that goes in your belly or another fleshy area of your body.
  • Rapid-acting inhaled insulin: This type of insulin (known as Afrezza®) is inhaled through your mouth (much like an asthma inhaler). It works much quicker than other types of insulin.

The amount of insulin you need day to day will vary across your lifespan and under specific circumstances. For example, you typically need larger doses of insulin during puberty, pregnancy and when you’re taking steroid medication.

Because of this, it’s important to see your endocrinologist regularly — usually at least three times a year —to make sure your insulin dosages and overall diabetes management are working for you.

Blood sugar monitoring for Type 1 diabetes management

People with Type 1 diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar closely throughout the day. Maintaining a healthy blood sugar range is the best way to avoid health complications. You can monitor your blood sugar in the following ways:

  • Blood glucose meter: You prick your finger and put a small drop of blood on the meter’s test strip. Your blood glucose level appears on the meter within seconds. A blood glucose meter is usually the least expensive home testing option, but it only reports your blood sugar at the time of the check.
  • Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): There are different types of CGMs. Most CGMs require you to insert a small sensor under your skin at home every seven to 14 days. Some CGMs are implanted by a healthcare provider. The sensor continuously records your blood glucose levels. People using a CGM require fewer finger sticks. CGM systems can be more expensive than fingerstick blood glucose meters, but they provide much more information about your glucose levels, including where they have been and where they are going. You can set different alarms to alert you if your blood sugar is trending too low or too high.

Your healthcare provider will tell you what your target blood glucose level range should be. It depends on a variety of factors, including your:

  • Age.
  • Lifestyle.
  • Overall health.
  • Access to diabetes technology and supplies.

Carb counting for Type 1 diabetes management

A large part of Type 1 diabetes management is counting carbohydrates (carbs) in the food and drinks you consume in order to give yourself proper doses of insulin.

Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient found in certain foods and drinks, such as grains, sweets, legumes and milk. When your body digests foods and drinks that contain carbs, it turns them into glucose, which is your body’s preferred form of energy. This raises your blood sugar level.

Because of this, people with Type 1 diabetes need to give themselves insulin doses when they consume carbohydrates.

Carb counting at its basic level involves counting the number of grams of carbohydrate in a meal (through reading nutrition labels) and matching that to your dose of insulin.

You’ll use what’s known as an insulin-to-carb ratio to calculate how much insulin you should take in order to manage your blood sugars when eating. Insulin-to-carb rations vary from person to person and may even be different at different times of the day. Your endocrinologist will help you determine your insulin-to-carb ratio.

What are the side effects of diabetes treatment?

The main side effect of diabetes treatment through insulin is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can occur if you take too much insulin based on your food intake and/or activity level. Hypoglycemia is usually considered to be below 70 mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre).

Symptoms of low blood sugar can start quickly, with people experiencing them in different ways. The signs of hypoglycemia are unpleasant, but they provide good warnings that you should take action before your blood sugar drops more.

The symptoms of low blood sugar include:

  • Shaking or trembling.
  • Sweating and chills.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness.
  • Faster heart rate.
  • Headaches.
  • Hunger.
  • Nausea.
  • Nervousness or irritability.
  • Pale skin.
  • Restless sleep.
  • Weakness.

Hypoglycemia can be dangerous and needs to be treated right away.

The American Diabetes Association recommends the “15-15 rule” for an episode of low blood sugar, which involves:

  • Eating or drinking 15 grams of carbohydrates to raise your blood sugar.
  • After 15 minutes, check your blood sugar.
  • If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, have another 15 grams of carbs.
  • Repeat until your blood sugar is at least 70 mg/dL.

If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia but can’t test your blood sugar, use the 15-15 rule until you feel better.

Children typically need fewer grams of carbs to treat lows. Check with their healthcare provider.

Is there a cure for Type 1 diabetes?

There is currently no cure for Type 1 diabetes, but scientists are working on ways to prevent or slow down the progression of the condition through studies such as TrialNet.

Scientists are also working on research into pancreatic islet transplantation — an experimental treatment for people who have brittle diabetes.

Pancreatic islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Your immune system attacks these cells in Type 1 diabetes. A pancreatic islet transplant replaces destroyed islets with new ones that make and release insulin. This procedure takes islets from the pancreas of an organ donor and transfers them to a person with Type 1 diabetes. Because researchers are still studying pancreatic islet transplantation, the procedure is only available to people enrolled in a study.

What is the prognosis (outlook) for Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a challenging condition to manage properly, especially consistently throughout your lifetime. Because of this, T1D is associated with several complications. Close to 50% of people with Type 1 diabetes will develop a serious complication over their lifetime. Some may lose eyesight while others may develop end-stage kidney disease.

For those who reach the first 20 years after diagnosis without any complications, the prognosis (outlook) is good.

What are the complications of Type 1 diabetes?

Since your blood touches virtually every part of your body, having poorly managed Type 1 diabetes that results in continuous high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can damage several different areas of your body.

Potential complications of Type 1 diabetes include:

Is Type 1 diabetes preventable?

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to prevent developing Type 1 diabetes.

Since Type 1 diabetes can run in families, your healthcare provider can test your family members for the autoantibodies that cause the disease. Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, an international research network, also offers autoantibody testing to family members of people with Type 1 diabetes.

The presence of autoantibodies, even without diabetes symptoms, means you’re more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes. If you have a sibling, child or parent with Type 1 diabetes, you may want to get an autoantibody test. These tests can help catch Type 1 diabetes in its earliest phases.

How do I take care of myself if I have Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a complex condition that requires daily management, effort and planning. Some tips that can help you manage your Type 1 diabetes include:

  • Check your blood sugar often: Checking your blood sugar with a glucometer and/or using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is crucial to managing diabetes and preventing complications. Try to at least check your blood sugar before and after meals and before you go to sleep. It’s important to treat high blood sugar as soon as possible.
  • Take your insulin and other medication regularly: Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking your insulin and other medications (if applicable).
  • See your endocrinologist regularly: It’s important to see your endocrinologist regularly to be sure that your Type 1 diabetes management plan is working. Don’t be afraid to ask them specific questions.
  • See your other providers regularly, especially your eye doctor: Type 1 diabetes can cause complications in various areas of your body, but especially your eyes. It’s important to see your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) at least yearly so that they can check the health of your eyes.
  • Have a sick day plan: Talk with your endocrinologist about how to take care of yourself and manage your diabetes when you’re sick. Since illness can trigger diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), it’s important to know what to do if you get sick before it happens so that you’re prepared.
  • Stay educated: Don’t be afraid to ask your provider questions about Type 1 diabetes. The more you know about Type 1 diabetes your diabetes management, the more likely you’ll be able to live healthily and prevent complications.
  • Find community: Connecting with other people who have Type 1 diabetes — whether in-person or online — can help you feel less alone in living with and managing diabetes.
  • Take care of your mental health: People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have depression and are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety than those without diabetes. Living with a chronic condition that requires constant care can be overwhelming. It’s important to talk to a mental health professional if you’re experiencing signs of depression and/or anxiety.

How do I take care of my child who has Type 1 diabetes?

When your child is first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, it can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to learn, and you’ll need to get up to speed quickly on how to manage Type 1 diabetes and incorporate lifestyle changes at home. Caregivers often manage Type 1 diabetes for their children, especially if they’re young.

Some things you’ll need to do include:

  • Learn to count carbohydrates, which may involve adapting your family’s diet.
  • Learn about how insulin works and how to give shots or use an insulin pump.
  • Learn to check your child’s blood sugar and interpret the results.
  • Understand how different foods, exercise and illnesses affect blood sugar levels.
  • Manage rivalries and feelings of jealousy between your children (if you have more than one), which is common when there’s a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in a family.
  • Support your child’s mental and emotional health and reach out for professional help if needed. They may suddenly feel very overwhelmed with what’s happening or feel that they’re different from their peers.
  • Help your child learn how to listen to their body for symptoms of high and low blood sugar and how to manage Type 1 diabetes on their own (when age-appropriate).
  • Educate friends, family, school administrators and others about Type 1 diabetes and your child’s management needs and what they can do to help. It’s important to reach out for help because while you can (and will) do a lot for your child, you can’t do it all.

When should I see my healthcare provider if I have Type 1 diabetes?

If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, such as extreme thirst and frequent urination, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

If you or your child have been diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to see your endocrinologist multiple times a year throughout your life to make sure your diabetes management is working well for you.

When should I go to ER if I have Type 1 diabetes?

If you’re experiencing symptoms of diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), such as high blood sugar, nausea and vomiting and rapid breathing, get to the nearest emergency room (ER) as soon as possible. DKA is life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes is a life-changing event, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t live a happy and healthy life. Type 1 diabetes involves constant day-to-day care and management. While it’ll likely be very overwhelming at first, over time you’ll get a better grasp on how to manage the condition and how to be in tune with your body.

Be sure to see your endocrinologist and other healthcare providers regularly. Managing Type 1 diabetes involves a team effort — you’ll want both medical professionals and friends and family on your side. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them if you need help.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Your endocrine system is in charge of creating and releasing hormones to maintain countless bodily functions. Endocrine tissues include your pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas and others. There are several conditions related to endocrine system issues — usually due to a hormone imbalance or problems directly affecting the tissue.

What is the endocrine system?

Your endocrine system consists of the tissues (mainly glands) that create and release hormones.

Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it. Hormones are essential for life and your health.

What is the function of the endocrine system?

The main function of your endocrine system is to release hormones into your blood while continuously monitoring the levels. Hormones deliver their messages by locking into the cells they target so they can relay the message. You have more than 50 different hormones, and they affect nearly all aspects of your health — directly or indirectly. Some examples include:

  • Metabolism.
  • Homeostasis (constant internal balance), such as blood pressure and blood sugar regulation, fluid (water) and electrolyte balance and body temperature.
  • Growth and development.
  • Sexual function.
  • Reproduction.
  • Sleep-wake cycle.
  • Mood.

Very small amounts of hormones can trigger significant responses and changes in your body. If your body has too little or too much of a hormone, it affects your health. This often causes noticeable symptoms.

What are the endocrine system organs?

Your endocrine system consists of three types of tissues:

  • Endocrine glands.
  • Organs.
  • Endocrine-related tissues.

Endocrine system glands

Glands are special tissues in your body that create and release substances. Endocrine glands make and release hormones directly into your bloodstream. The endocrine glands in your body from head to toe include:

  • Pineal gland: This is a tiny gland in your brain that’s beneath the back part of your corpus callosum. It makes and releases the hormone melatonin.
  • Pituitary gland: This is a small, pea-sized gland at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus. It releases eight hormones, some of which trigger other endocrine glands to release hormones.
  • Thyroid gland: This is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck under your skin. It releases hormones that help control your metabolism.
  • Parathyroid glands: These are four pea-sized glands that are typically behind your thyroid. Sometimes they exist along your esophagus or in your chest (ectopic parathyroid glands). They release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which controls the level of calcium in your blood.
  • Adrenal glands: These are small, triangle-shaped glands on top of each of your two kidneys. They release several hormones that manage bodily processes, like metabolism, blood pressure and your stress response.

You have other glands in your body that aren’t endocrine glands, such as sweat glands (a type of exocrine gland).

Endocrine system organs

Certain organs in your body also make and release hormones. An organ is a group of tissues that form a structure that performs specific important functions in your body. The organs that are part of your endocrine system include:

Other tissues that release hormones

Other tissues in your body release hormones. But we don’t typically think of them as endocrine system tissues because they have other, more significant functions or roles. They include:

  • Digestive tract (stomach and small intestine): Your digestive tract is the largest endocrine-related organ system. It makes and releases several hormones that play a role in your metabolism. Examples include gastrin and ghrelin.
  • Kidneys: Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter your blood. They’re part of your urinary system, but they also produce hormones, like erythropoietin and renin.
  • Liver: Your liver is part of your digestive system, but it also produces hormones, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and angiotensinogen.
  • Heart: When your blood pressure rises, your heart releases two hormones called A-type natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide.
  • Placenta: The placenta is a temporary endocrine organ that forms during pregnancy. It produces hormones that are important for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and preparing your body for labor and breastfeeding.

What are endocrine system diseases?

There are hundreds of conditions related to issues with your endocrine system. Hormonal imbalances make up a significant number of endocrine diseases. This typically means there’s too much or not enough of one or more hormones. But issues directly affecting endocrine system glands and organs, like benign and cancerous tumors, also account for endocrine diseases.

The below groupings cover some — but certainly not all — endocrine system-related conditions.

Diabetes and metabolic conditions:

Endocrine cancers and tumors:

Thyroid disease:

Sexual development, function and reproduction conditions:

Calcium and bone conditions:

What healthcare providers treat endocrine system issues?

An endocrinologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in the endocrine system and conditions related to your hormones. They can diagnose endocrine conditions, develop treatment and management plans, and prescribe medication. Pediatric endocrinologists specialize in conditions that affect children under 18.

Some endocrine conditions may require more than one provider. For example, care for cancer affecting endocrine tissues would also involve oncologists and other cancer specialists.

How can I keep my endocrine system healthy?

It’s not possible to prevent all types of endocrine system-related conditions, like those that have autoimmune causes. But there are some steps you can take to try and keep your endocrine system healthy, including:

  • Maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Exercising regularly.
  • Getting proper nutrition.
  • Getting quality sleep.
  • Limiting or avoiding alcohol.
  • Avoiding or quitting smoking.

Chemicals called endocrine disrupters can also affect your endocrine system. These chemicals are in many everyday products, including some:

  • Cosmetics.
  • Food and beverage packaging.
  • Toys.
  • Carpets.
  • Pesticides.

You can’t completely avoid contact with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). But you can make informed choices to reduce your exposure to them and your risk of any potential health effects.

Lastly, if you have a family history of endocrine system-related conditions, like diabetes or thyroid disease, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you understand your risk of developing the condition and let you know what symptoms to look out for.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Your endocrine system is vital to your existence. While normally, your body carefully balances its hormones, having too little or too much of a certain hormone can lead to health problems. If you’re experiencing any concerning symptoms, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. They’re available to help.

BRAIN ANEURYSM

A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulge in a weak area of a blood vessel in or around your brain. Most aneurysms are small and don’t cause issues. But a ruptured brain aneurysm is life-threatening. The first sign of a ruptured brain aneurysm is usually a severe headache — the worst headache you’ve ever had. Seek medical care immediately if you have symptoms of a brain aneurysm rupture.

What is a brain aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a bulge in a weak area of an artery in or around your brain. The constant pressure of blood flow pushes the weakened section outward, creating a blister-like bump.

When blood rushes into this bulge, the aneurysm stretches even farther. It’s similar to how a balloon gets thinner and is more likely to pop as it fills with air.

Brain aneurysms can occur anywhere in your brain, but most of them form in the major arteries along the base of your skull. Approximately 10% to 30% of people who have a brain aneurysm have multiple aneurysms. The majority of brain aneurysms are small and don’t cause symptoms.

An aneurysm can cause symptoms if it puts pressure on nearby nerves or brain tissue. If the aneurysm leaks or ruptures (bursts open), it causes bleeding in your brain. A ruptured brain aneurysm can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical treatment. As more time passes with a ruptured aneurysm, the likelihood of death or disability increases.

What happens when a brain aneurysm ruptures?

When it ruptures, blood spills (hemorrhages) into your surrounding brain tissue. The blood can put excess pressure on your brain tissue and make your brain swell. It usually causes a severe headache called a thunderclap headache, in addition to other symptoms.

A ruptured brain aneurysm can cause serious health problems such as:

  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): Bleeding in the area between your brain and the thin tissues that cover and protect it (the arachnoid layer). About 90% of SAHs are due to ruptured brain aneurysms.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke: Bleeding in the space between your skull and brain.

This can result can in permanent brain damage or other complications such as:

  • Vasospasm: This happens when blood vessels get narrower or clamp down and less oxygen reaches your brain.
  • Hydrocephalus: This happens when a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid or blood around your brain puts increased pressure on it.
  • Seizures: A seizure is a temporary, uncontrolled surge of electrical activity in your brain. It can make brain damage due to a ruptured aneurysm worse.
  • Coma: A state of prolonged unconsciousness. It can last days to weeks.
  • Death: Ruptured brain aneurysms result in death in about 50% of cases.

Who do brain aneurysms affect?

Brain aneurysms can affect anyone and at any age. But they’re most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 60. They’re also more common in women.

How common are brain aneurysms?

Up to 6% of people in the U.S. have an aneurysm in their brain that isn’t bleeding (an unruptured aneurysm). Ruptured brain aneurysms are less common. They occur in approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. per year.

What are the symptoms of a brain aneurysm?

Brain aneurysm symptoms vary based on whether it’s unruptured or ruptured.

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm

Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include:

  • Thunderclap headache (sudden onset and severe, often described as “The worst headache of my life”).
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Blurred or double vision.
  • Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
  • Seizures.
  • Drooping eyelid and a dilated pupil.
  • Pain above and behind your eye.
  • Confusion.
  • Weakness and/or numbness.
  • Loss of consciousness.

Call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible if you have these symptoms.

When a brain aneurysm leaks a small about of blood it’s called a sentinel bleed. You may experience warning headaches (called sentinel headaches) from a tiny aneurysm leak days or weeks before a significant rupture.

Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm

Most unruptured (intact) brain aneurysms don’t cause symptoms. If they become large enough, the bulge in your artery can put pressure on nearby nerves or brain tissue, causing the following symptoms:

  • Headaches.
  • Vision changes.
  • Enlarged (dilated) pupil.
  • Numbness or tingling on your head or face.
  • Pain above and behind your eye.
  • Seizures.

See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you’re experiencing these symptoms.

What causes brain aneurysms?

Brain aneurysms develop when the walls of an artery in your brain become thin and weak. They usually form at branching points of arteries. Sometimes, you can be born with a brain aneurysm. This is typically due to an abnormality (birth defect) in an artery wall. Several other factors can contribute to the weakening of an artery.

The following inherited factors affect the health of your arteries and can increase your risk of developing a brain aneurysm:

The following conditions and situations can weaken your artery walls over time:

What causes a brain aneurysm to rupture?

The factors that contribute to the development of a brain aneurysm can also cause it to rupture (burst) and bleed.

Researchers think high blood pressure is the most common cause of a rupture. Higher blood pressure makes blood push harder against blood vessel walls. Situations that can increase blood pressure and lead to a brain aneurysm rupture include:

  • Ongoing stress or a sudden burst of anger or other strong emotion.
  • Working hard (straining) to lift, carry or push something heavy like weights or furniture.
  • Known high blood pressure that isn’t properly treated with medications.

Many factors determine whether an aneurysm is likely to burst, including:

  • Size and shape: Smaller aneurysms may be less likely to bleed than larger, irregularly shaped ones.
  • Growth: If an aneurysm has grown over time, it may be more likely to rupture.
  • Location: Aneurysms on the posterior communicating arteries (a pair of arteries in the back of your brain) and the anterior communicating artery (an artery in the front of your brain) have a higher risk of rupturing than brain aneurysms in other locations.
  • Race: People of Japanese or Finish heritage have higher risk of aneurysm rupture.
  • Older age: People older than 70 are at higher risk of aneurysm rupture.

People who have multiple brain aneurysms or who’ve had a previous aneurysm bleed are at the highest risk of a brain aneurysm rupture.

How are brain aneurysms diagnosed?

Most people with an unruptured brain aneurysm don’t know they have one. A healthcare provider may find one during an imaging test of your brain, such as an MRI or CT scan that you got for a different medical reason.

If you have symptoms of a brain aneurysm, such as a severe headache, call 911 or go to the emergency room. A healthcare provider will order tests to see if a brain aneurysm has ruptured. These tests may include:

  • CT (computed tomography) scan: This is often the first imaging test a provider will order to see if blood has leaked into your brain. A CT scan uses X-rays and computers to produce images of a cross-section of your body. Providers may also use a CT angiogram (CTA), which produces more detailed images of blood flow in your brain’s arteries. CTA can show the size, location and shape of an unruptured or ruptured aneurysm.
  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan: MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed images of your brain. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) produces detailed images of your brain’s arteries and can show the size, location and shape of an aneurysm.
  • Cerebral angiography: This is a procedure in which a neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist. They thread it to your brain to take more accurate images of the arteries in your neck and brain. This imaging test can find blockages in arteries in your brain or neck. It also can identify weak spots in an artery, like an aneurysm. Providers use this test to determine the cause of bleeding in your brain and the exact location, size and shape of an aneurysm.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis: This test measures the substances in the fluid that surrounds and protects your brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). A provider collects a CSF sample by performing a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). The analysis can detect bleeding around your brain.

How are brain aneurysms treated?

The main goal of brain aneurysm treatment is to stop or reduce the flow of blood into the aneurysm. A leaking or ruptured brain aneurysm requires emergency surgery. You may or may not need treatment for an unruptured aneurysm depending on your circumstances.

Your healthcare team will recommend the best treatment option(s) for you based on your vascular anatomy, aneurysm size and location and several other factors.

In general, recovery takes longer for ruptured aneurysms than for unruptured aneurysms.

Microvascular clipping for brain aneurysms

During this surgery, a neurosurgeon cuts a small opening in your skull to access the aneurysm. Using a tiny microscope and instruments, the neurosurgeon attaches a small metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to pinch it off. This blocks blood from flowing into the aneurysm. The surgery can stop a brain bleed or keep an intact aneurysm from enlarging or breaking open.

Recovery time is different for ruptured (several weeks to months) and unruptured (usually two to four weeks) aneurysms. Aneurysms that are completely clipped usually don’t bleed again (recur).

Endovascular coiling for brain aneurysm

For this procedure, a neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist inserts a catheter (a flexible tube) into a blood vessel, usually in your groin or wrist, and threads it to your brain. Through the catheter, the provider places a tiny coil of soft wire into the aneurysm.

Once the provider releases the coil into the aneurysm, it changes the blood flow pattern within the aneurysm, resulting in a clot. This clot prevents blood from entering the aneurysm, providing a seal in a similar way as a clip.

Flow diversion stents for brain aneurysm

For this procedure, a neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist and threads it to your brain. Through the catheter, the provider places a mesh tube in the part of the blood vessel that contains the aneurysm. The mesh encourages or diverts your blood flow away from instead of into the aneurysm.

WEB device for brain aneurysm

For this procedure, a neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist and threads it to your brain. Through the catheter, the provider places a metal mesh-like cube or sphere into the aneurysm. This works similar to a coil, as it provides a seal-like effect on the aneurysm, not allowing blood into it anymore to prevent it from enlarging or rupturing.

Additional treatments for a ruptured brain aneurysm

If you have a ruptured aneurysm, your healthcare team will use additional treatments to manage your symptoms and try to prevent complications. These treatments may include:

  • Antiseizure medications: These medications can help prevent seizures related to a ruptured aneurysm.
  • Calcium channel blockers: These medications can help reduce your risk of stroke due to vasospasm.
  • Shunt: This is a tube that helps drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from your brain to somewhere else in your body. It can help prevent hydrocephalus.

People who have a ruptured aneurysm often need physical, speech and occupational therapy to regain function and learn new ways to function with any permanent disability.

Do I need treatment for an unruptured brain aneurysm?

If you have a small unruptured brain aneurysm that isn’t causing symptoms and you don’t have other relevant risk factors, your healthcare provider may recommend not treating it.

Instead, your provider will order regular imaging tests to monitor it for any changes or growth over time. They’ll also recommend you quit smoking (if you smoke) and make sure your blood pressure is well managed.

You’ll need to get help right away if you develop symptoms or if the aneurysm changes on follow-up imaging.

If you have symptoms, positive risk factors and/or the aneurysm is large, you and your healthcare provider will discuss the benefits, risks and alternatives of surgical and/or endovascular treatment. The decision depends on several factors, including but not limited to your:

  • Age.
  • Overall health and your medical conditions.
  • Aneurysm location, size and other characteristics.
  • Vascular anatomy.
  • Family history.
  • Risk of a rupture.

What is the prognosis for a ruptured brain aneurysm?

The prognosis (outlook) for a ruptured brain aneurysm depends on several factors, including:

  • Your age and overall health.
  • If you have preexisting neurological conditions.
  • The location of the aneurysm.
  • How much the aneurysm bled.
  • How quickly you received treatment.
  • If the treatment of the aneurysm was successful.

About 25% of people who experience a brain aneurysm rupture die within 24 hours. Around 50% of people die within three months of the rupture due to complications.

Of those who survive, about 66% experience permanent brain damage. Some people recover with little or no disability.

Can you live a long life with a brain aneurysm?

Many people who have a small unruptured brain aneurysm never develop symptoms and it doesn’t affect their health.

However, the mortality rate of ruptured brain aneurysms is very high.

How can I reduce my risk of developing an aneurysm?

You can’t prevent or change certain brain aneurysm risk factors, like your age or genetic conditions. But you can lower your risk of developing a brain aneurysm by:

When should I see my healthcare provider about a brain aneurysm?

If you have an unruptured brain aneurysm, you’ll need to see your healthcare provider regularly to monitor the size of the aneurysm and to manage any contributing risk factors, like high blood pressure.

If you’ve had a ruptured brain aneurysm, you’ll need to see your healthcare team regularly to monitor any complications and to make sure you don’t develop another aneurysm.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

A sudden, severe headache with or without stroke symptoms could be a sign of a brain aneurysm. Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you’re having these symptoms. The sooner you can get medical attention, the greater your chance of survival. If you have an unruptured brain aneurysm, talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of different treatment and management options. They’re available to help you.

ANEURYSM

An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of an artery. Aneurysms form when there’s a weak area in the artery wall. Untreated aneurysms can burst open, leading to internal bleeding. They can also cause blood clots that block the flow of blood in your artery. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, a rupture or clot can be life-threatening.

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a weak or expanded part of an artery, like a bulge in a balloon. Your arteries are large blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from your heart to other parts of your body. If an area in an artery wall weakens, the force of blood pumping through can result in a bulge or aneurysm.

Aneurysms usually aren’t painful. You might not know you have one unless it ruptures or bursts. If it does, it can be very dangerous or even fatal.

What are the different types of aneurysms?

An aneurysm can form in any of the arteries in your body. Aneurysms can occur in your heart, abdomen, brain or legs. The location determines the type of aneurysm.

Aortic aneurysms are by far the most common. They form in your aorta, your body’s largest artery. Your aorta carries blood out of your heart. Aneurysms that develop in arteries other than your aorta are called peripheral aneurysms.

Types of aneurysms include:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): Abdominal aortic aneurysms may form where your aorta carries blood into your abdomen (belly).
  • Cerebral aneurysms: Also called brain aneurysms, these aneurysms affect an artery in your brain. A saccular (or berry) aneurysm is the most common type of cerebral aneurysm. It forms as a sac of blood attached to an artery. It looks like a round berry attached to the artery.
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm: These aneurysms are less common than AAAs. Thoracic aortic aneurysms form in the upper part of your aorta, in your chest.
  • Carotid aneurysm: Carotid artery aneurysms form in your carotid arteries. These blood vessels bring blood to your brain, neck and face. Carotid aneurysms are rare.
  • Popliteal aneurysm: These develop in the artery that runs behind your knees.
  • Mesenteric artery aneurysm: This type of aneurysm forms in the artery that brings blood to your intestine.
  • Splenic artery aneurysm: These aneurysms develop in an artery in your spleen.

How common are aneurysms?

Unruptured brain aneurysms affect 2% to 5% of healthy people, and about 25% of them have multiple aneurysms. Most brain aneurysms develop in adulthood, but they can also occur in children with mean age of detection around 50 years. The vast majority of brain aneurysms don’t rupture.

Aortic aneurysms become more prevalent with age. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are four to six times more common in males than females. They affect only about 1% of males aged 55 to 64. But the incidence increases by 2% to 4% with every decade.

Who is at risk for an aneurysm?

Different types of aneurysms affect different groups. Brain aneurysms affect females more than males. Aortic aneurysms more often affect males.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur most often in people who are:

  • Males.
  • Over the age of 60.
  • Smokers.
  • White, although they affect people of any race.

What are the symptoms of an aneurysm?

In many cases, people don’t know they have an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures (bursts), it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or someone you’re with shows signs of a ruptured aneurysm. Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm come on suddenly. You may feel:

  • Lightheaded.
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • Sudden, severe pain in your head, chest, abdomen or back.
  • Sudden loss of consciousness following a severe headache.

When an aneurysm causes symptoms, the signs depend on its location. You might notice signs of shock, such as a drop in blood pressure, feeling clammy and “out of it,” and having a pounding heart. Other symptoms of an aneurysm can include:

What are the complications of an aneurysm?

If an aneurysm ruptures, it causes internal bleeding. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, a rupture can be very dangerous or life-threatening. An aneurysm in your neck can cause a blood clot that travels to your brain. If the clot cuts off blood flow to your brain, it causes a stroke. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Some people call this type of stroke a brain bleed. Typically people have what they call the worst headache of their life and then develop other symptoms like limb weakness, headache and trouble speaking.

What causes an aneurysm?

In some cases, people are born with aneurysms. They can also develop at any point during your life. Although the cause of an aneurysm is often unknown, some possible causes include:

How is an aneurysm diagnosed?

Many aneurysms develop without causing symptoms. Your healthcare provider may discover it by accident during a routine checkup or other screening.

If you have symptoms that may indicate an aneurysm, your provider will do imaging tests. Imaging tests that can find and help diagnose an aneurysm include:

How will my healthcare provider classify an aneurysm?

Your provider will classify an aneurysm by how large it is and how it forms. The different classifications include:

  • Fusiform aneurysm bulges out on all sides of your artery.
  • Saccular aneurysm causes just one side of your artery to bulge.
  • Mycotic aneurysm develops after an infection (typically in your heart valves) has weakened an artery wall.
  • Pseudoaneurysm or false aneurysm occurs when just the outer layer of your artery wall expands. This can occur after injury to the inner layer of your artery called dissection.

How is an aneurysm treated?

If your provider discovers that you have an unruptured aneurysm, they’ll monitor your condition closely. The goal of treatment is to prevent the aneurysm from bursting.

Depending on the aneurysm’s type, location and size, treatment can include medication or surgery. Your provider may prescribe medications to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure or control cholesterol. These treatments can help slow aneurysm growth and reduce pressure on the artery wall.

Large aneurysms at risk of bursting may require surgery. You’ll also need surgery if an aneurysm bursts. Types of surgery may include:

  • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): During endovascular surgery, your provider inserts a catheter (thin tube) into the vessel. Through the catheter, the surgeon inserts a graft (section of specialized tubing) to reinforce or repair the artery. For thoracic aneurysms, this procedure is called thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). If your surgeon has to make a special graft with custom openings, the procedure may be fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR).
  • Open surgery: In some cases, a surgeon may perform the graft or remove the aneurysm through an incision (open surgery).
  • Endovascular coiling: This procedure treats cerebral aneurysms. The surgeon inserts multiple coils (a spiral of platinum wire) through a catheter to pack the aneurysm. This reduces blood flow to the aneurysm and eliminates the risk of rupture.
  • Microvascular clipping: This type of open brain surgery treats cerebral aneurysms. The surgeon places a metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to cut off blood supply.
  • Catheter embolization: This procedure cuts off blood supply to the aneurysm. The surgeon inserts a catheter into the affected artery, using the tube to place medication or embolic agents that prevent bleeding.

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with an aneurysm?

Ruptured aneurysms are a life-threatening emergency. When an aneurysm ruptures in your brain, it causes a stroke. Without immediate treatment, it can be fatal. If you get treatment right away, the outcomes can vary. Many people recover well with rehabilitation and other care.

Healthcare providers usually can help you manage smaller, unruptured aneurysms. Your provider will monitor your condition closely. Medication or surgery can minimize the risk of rupture.

How can I prevent an aneurysm?

Unruptured aneurysms are common. You can’t always prevent them. But you can reduce your risk of developing an aneurysm by maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Lightheadedness.
  • Rapid heart rate.
  • Sudden, severe pain in your head, chest, abdomen or back.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Am I at risk for developing an aneurysm?
  • Should I have imaging tests to look for aneurysms?
  • How can I prevent an aneurysm from getting worse or rupturing?
  • What lifestyle changes can I make to reduce my risk?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

An aneurysm can occur in any of the arteries in your body. Your provider can monitor and treat an aneurysm to reduce the risk of it bursting. If an aneurysm does rupture, it’s a medical emergency. You need to seek medical attention immediately.

VENOUS DISEASE

Venous disease is any disease that affects your veins. Veins play an important role in circulating your blood through your body. They carry blood back to your heart. But when something weakens or damages a vein, it doesn’t work the way it should. Various treatments can help, and there are things you can do to help yourself.

What is venous disease?

Venous disease is any condition that affects the veins in your body. Veins are flexible, hollow tubes that are part of the circulatory system that moves blood through your body. Veins bring oxygen-poor blood back to your heart, which pumps your blood. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart.

Veins have flaps (valves) inside that open when your muscles contract. This allows blood to move through your veins. When your muscles relax, the valves close, keeping blood flowing in one direction.

If venous disease damages the valves inside your veins, the valves may not close completely. This lets blood leak backward or flow in both directions.

Types of venous disease

Venous diseases include:

  • Blood clots: These can happen in your legs, arms, veins of your internal organs (kidney, spleen, intestines, liver and pelvic organs), in your brain (cerebral vein thrombosis), in your kidneys (renal vein thrombosis), or in your lungs (pulmonary embolism).
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): This is a blood clot that occurs in a deep vein (including arms and legs). Deep vein thrombosis itself isn’t life-threatening. However, the blood clot has the potential to break free and travel through the bloodstream, where it can stick in your lung’s blood vessels and become a pulmonary embolism. This can be a life-threatening condition.
  • Superficial thrombophlebitis: This is a blood clot that develops in a vein close to the surface of your skin. These types of blood clots don’t usually travel to your lungs unless they move from your superficial system into your deep venous system first. Typically, however, they cause pain.
  • Chronic venous insufficiency: This condition causes pooling of blood, chronic leg swelling, increased pressure, increased pigmentation or discoloration of your skin, and leg ulcers known as venous stasis ulcers.
  • Varicose and spider veins: These are abnormal, dilated blood vessels that happen because of weakening in your blood vessel wall.
  • Venous ulcers: Ulcers are wounds or open sores that won’t heal or keep returning. Venous stasis ulcers most commonly occur below your knee, on the inner part of your leg, just above your ankle.
  • Arteriovenous fistulas: These are arteries and veins that connect to each other directly, with nothing in between. This is abnormal.

How common is venous disease?

Venous disease affects more than 30 million people in the United States. Researchers predict even more people will have it in the future. With people living longer and weighing more, they’re more likely to get venous disease.

About 1 million cases of venous thromboembolism happened in 2010 in the U.S. By 2050, that number may reach 1.8 million.

Roughly 33% of adults have varicose veins.

About 1% of adults have venous leg ulcers.

What are the symptoms?

Venous disease symptoms include these issues in your legs or arms:

  • Pain, cramping or discomfort.
  • Redness or warmth.
  • Heaviness.
  • Itching or burning feeling.
  • Swelling.
  • Bulging veins.

What causes venous disease?

Venous disease causes include:

  • Issues with how your veins formed when you were born.
  • Injury.
  • Other venous diseases.
  • Weak blood vessel walls because of pregnancy, aging, cysts or tumors.
  • High blood pressure.

What are the risk factors for venous disease?

Risk factors for venous disease include:

  • Family history of venous disease.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Having a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30.
  • Being female.
  • Sitting or standing for long periods of time.
  • Taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.
  • Using tobacco products.

What are the complications of venous disease?

Certain venous diseases can lead to other issues.

  • Superficial thrombophlebitis: Deep vein thrombosis.
  • Deep vein thrombosis: Chronic venous insufficiency or pulmonary embolism.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Pulmonary hypertension.
  • Varicose veins: Superficial thrombophlebitis or venous ulcers.
  • Venous ulcers: Infections, like gangrene.

How is venous disease diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will review your medical history, including your family’s medical history. They’ll also do a physical exam and order any tests you may need.

What tests will be done to diagnose venous disease?

Tests to diagnose venous disease include:

  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI).
  • Ultrasound.
  • Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
  • Computed tomography (CT).
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Angiogram.

How is venous disease treated?

Venous disease treatments include:

  • Medications.
  • Compression stockings or bandages.
  • Lifestyles changes, such as eating foods with less fat, exercising more and giving up tobacco products.
  • Procedures or surgeries.

Several nonsurgical and surgical treatment options are available for each type of venous disease. The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Your healthcare provider will recommend the treatment option that’s right for you.

Before choosing any treatment, it’s important to discuss the potential benefits, risks and side effects with your provider. You’ll receive specific guidelines to help you prepare for your procedure, as well as specific instructions to help your recovery.

Specific medicines/procedures used

Medicines and procedures vary, depending on the type of venous disease. Venous disease treatment may include:

Complications/side effects of the treatment

Side effects of treatment depend on the type of treatment you have. Your healthcare provider can explain which treatments make sense for the venous disease you have.

How soon after treatment will I feel better?

Your healthcare provider may be able to give you an estimate of how quickly you’ll feel better. Everyone is different, and various methods provide relief at different speeds.

What can I expect if I have venous disease?

Without treatment, venous disease can get worse and impact your quality of life. Receiving treatment will improve these things. While superficial thrombophlebitis goes away in a few weeks, it can take more time to recover from other venous diseases. Some people have chronic venous disease. This means they deal with it long term.

You may need frequent appointments with your provider to make sure you’re managing the venous disease. They may want to redo ultrasounds or retake other tests to compare with earlier test results.

Venous diseases like varicose and spider veins can come back after treatment. Venous ulcers can also happen again.

How can I lower my risk of venous disease?

You can lower your risk of disease by improving the health of your veins and the rest of your cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) system by:

  • Managing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.
  • Exercising 30 to 60 minutes or more a day on most days of the week.
  • Moving around every hour if you’re sitting and/or traveling.
  • Not using tobacco products.
  • Staying at a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Eating foods with low salt and saturated fat.
  • Managing your stress.

How do I take care of myself?

Whether you’re sitting or standing, walk around every hour. This encourages good blood flow through your body. Avoiding tobacco products is another way to take care of your blood vessels. Ask your healthcare provider for information about programs or products that can help you with this.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Go to all of your scheduled appointments with your healthcare provider. Contact your provider if you experience changes in your usual symptoms or if they get worse.

When should I go to the ER?

Get immediate help if you’re bleeding too much while taking blood thinners. Also, call 911 or your local emergency number if you have symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, such as:

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Chest pain.
  • Fast heartbeat.
  • Cough.
  • Bluish skin.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Questions to ask your provider include:

  • How advanced is my venous disease?
  • What can I do at home to manage my venous disease?
  • Do I need medication or a procedure for my venous disease?
  • Are there treatments you can provide in your office?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Many people have venous diseases, so you’re not alone. Talk with your provider about your condition and how you can manage it with their help. Learning as much as you can about your specific disease will help you make informed choices about your treatment and how to care for yourself.