If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
- Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night
- Are very thirsty
- Lose weight without trying
- Are very hungry
- Have blurry vision
- Have numb or tingling hands or feel
- Fatigue
- Have very dry skin
- Have sores that heal slowly
- Have more infections than usual
- Type 1 Diabetes- family history (having a parent or sibling with Type 1 Diabetes) or age. You are more likely to develop Type 1 Diabetes in your adolescent years.
- Type 2 Diabetes- being overweight, having prediabetes, having a family history of prediabetes, are African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native person.
- Type 1 Diabetes- Type 1 diabetes was once called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. It usually develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can happen at any age.
- Type 2 Diabetes- If you have type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond.
- Gestational Diabetes- Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes. Every year, 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes.
Find a Program
- The purpose of finding a program is to help manage and relieve side effects of Type 2 Diabetes and decrease hospitalizations relating to Type 2 Diabetes.
Background
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and people with diagnosed diabetes have a 50% higher risk of early death than those without the disease. In addition, the United States spends approximately $327 billion annually on medical costs and lost wages.
People with diabetes are at higher risk for blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and many other health complications. In addition, studies show that type 2 diabetes increases the risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Fortunately, there are evidence-based programs such as the Diabetes Self Management Education and Support (DSMES) that help people better manage their diabetes and promote a long and healthy life. Organizations offering DSMES services can apply for recognition by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or accreditation by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) and are eligible for reimbursement by Medicare, many private health plans, and some state Medicaid agencies.1 Covered benefits for DSMES vary by insurer, making it important to verify participants’ benefits at the outset.
Benefits of DSMES
As stated by the CDC, considerable evidence exists linking DSMES participation to positive changes in health behaviors and improved diabetes-related outcomes. Benefits of DSMES participation can include:
- Improved hemoglobin A1c levels
- Improved control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Higher rates of medication adherence
- Fewer or less severe diabetes-related complications
- Healthier lifestyle behaviors, such as better nutrition, increased physical activity, and use of primary care and preventive services
- Enhanced self-efficacy
- Decreased health care costs, including fewer hospital admissions and readmissions
Want to learn more about the benefits of DSMES? Visit CDC’s website for more information: