Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body cannot properly turn the sugar from the food we eat into energy. Our bodies make a substance called insulin which helps to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
If you have diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or can’t use insulin properly (type 2 diabetes). In addition, prediabetes means that you are at a high risk for developing diabetes. People with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetic.
High blood sugar levels can be dangerous and may lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of toes, feet, or legs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimates that in 2019, more than 37 million adults in the United States have diabetes and that 23 percent of people who currently have diabetes do not know it. Approximately 96 million additional adults have prediabetes and 80 percent of prediabetics are unaware of their condition.
Diabetes in Allegheny County
ACHD is committed to helping people prevent and manage diabetes. Along with our partners, we work to make sure that the most at-risk populations in Allegheny County get the best education and treatment.
In Allegheny County, it is estimated that 10 percent of adults live with diabetes (source: Pennsylvania Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): 2019-2021). According to the BRFSS, In Allegheny County, 9 percent of white non-Hispanic adults have ever been told they have diabetes compared to 14 percent of non-white adults. The rate of preventable hospitalizations related to diabetes among Black adults was 3.8 times higher than White adults in Allegheny County. Allegheny County Community Indicators provides more statistical information.
Diabetes Prevention and Management
Getting your blood sugar tested is the best way to find out if you have prediabetes or diabetes. People who have one or more of the following risk factors should talk to their doctor about getting their blood sugar tested:
- Being overweight or obese
- Being 45 years or older
- Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Not being physically active on a regular basis
- Ever having diabetes develop during pregnancy or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
- Race and ethnicity can also be a risk factor. African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk than other races and ethnicities.
People with prediabetes who work to make lifestyle changes can cut their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC that you can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by doing two things: losing 5-7 percent of your body weight (for someone who weighs 200 pounds, that means losing around 10 pounds) and getting 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends getting screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you are aged 35-70 and overweight or obese.
Online Screening Tools and Resources
Allegheny County Diabetes Resources
If your health care provider tells you that you have prediabetes (a fasting blood sugar level of 100-125) you can enroll in a Diabetes Prevention Program. These programs may be a covered benefit through your health insurance policy including Medicare and Medicare or an employee wellness program.
Diabetes is not a “one size fits all” disease. It can be a complex condition that requires daily choices about food, activity, medications, and blood sugar checks. A person with diabetes can work together with their medical provider, pharmacist, and a diabetes educator to successfully manage diabetes.
Medicare as well as many other health insurance plans can cover diabetes education. Registered dietitians and nurses provide guidance and teach self-care skill-building in Diabetes Self-Management Education programs.
To learn what insurance covers call the member benefit number on the back of the health insurance card and ask about coverage for diabetes education services and what co-pays, if any, are required. Additionally, when visiting a health provider about diabetes, ask for a referral for diabetes education. This referral or prescription may be needed for coverage by health insurance.
Allegheny County is home to many diabetes educational resources and programs here is a local map of diabetes resources. You can also download ACHD's Guide to Diabetes Resources(PDF, 109KB). Other local resources include:
More Diabetes Information and Resources
Diabetes Information
Resources for Diabetes Management
Resources for Nutrition
Resources for Caregivers