Let’s change this statistic together. Whether or not you’re an EmblemHealth member, diabetes prevention and management begins with a health plan and coverage for blood tests.
Diabetes Prevention Resources
An estimated 1.7 million New Yorkers have diabetes.
Common Questions About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects your body’s ability to make enough insulin or use the insulin it makes the way it should. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body for energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t get into cells and builds up in the bloodstream. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and causes many of the symptoms and complications of diabetes.
The three main types of diabetes are, type 1, type 2, and gestational.
Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes occurs when there’s an autoimmune reaction, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that create insulin. This is primarily an inherited disease; diet and lifestyle habits don’t cause type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes: This is a condition caused by a combination of the pancreas not creating enough insulin and the body responding poorly to insulin, making it difficult to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is more common in older adults. However, this diagnosis is on the rise for young adults, teens, and children. Diet and lifestyle are factors that affect type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes: This is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It happens when the placenta causes glucose to build up in the body and your body cannot create enough insulin. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after childbirth but may increase the risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.
People are developing diabetes at a higher rate and a younger age than ever before. Early detection is key to preventing and managing the disease. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about getting screened for diabetes, especially if you have additional risk factors or if you notice any signs or symptoms.
Common diabetes symptoms include:
- Increased thirst.
- Frequent urination, particularly at night.
- Increased hunger.
- Unexplained weight loss or muscle loss.
- Fatigue or weakness.
- Blurred vision.
- Irritability or other mood changes.
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands or feet.
- Slow-healing cuts or sores.
- Frequent infections.
- Dry, itchy skin.
Diabetes symptoms may develop slowly over time and often go undetected for years. In fact, many people with diabetes have no symptoms at all — 1 in 5 people with diabetes and 8 in 10 people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it. That’s one of the reasons why diabetes screening is so important.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Basics About Diabetes, 2023.
Age: If you are 45 years of age or older, it is more likely for you to develop type 2 diabetes.
Family history: A family history of diabetes.
Physical activity: If you’re physically active less than 3 times a week.
Weight: Being overweight or obese.
Race/ethnicity: People of certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, including African American, Hispanic or Latin American, and Asian American people.
Gestational diabetes: It usually goes away after childbirth but also may increase your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes begins with a visit to your primary care provider (PCP).
Doctors will perform blood tests to diagnose diabetes. The A1C, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), and Oral Glucose Tolerance (OGTT) tests are used to determine blood glucose levels. Ask your doctor what test is right for you.
While there is no cure for diabetes, it can be managed. Balancing food with exercise and medicine can help keep blood glucose levels in a healthy range.
In general, a fasting blood glucose level between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L) is considered normal. For a random blood glucose test, the level should be 125 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L) or lower. However, a “normal” result may depend on when you last ate. Always talk to your doctor to see what they recommend for you.
Source: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2023.
Low blood sugar can have many different causes. Several potential causes relate to insulin levels.Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. It helps blood sugar enter your body’s cells, which the cells then turn into energy. A person with diabetes may be prescribed insulin if their bodies don’t make enough on their own. If you take too much or do not eat enough carbs for the amount that you took, your blood sugar levels could get low. You also need to pay attention to when you take your insulin, as that can affect your blood sugar levels.
You should also consider when and how much you exercise. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the best physical activity routine to help manage your diabetes.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia); Type 2 Diabetes, 2022.
Additional Diabetes Resources
Caring for Our Communities
AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY)
- One of the largest primary and specialty care medical practices located throughout all five New York boroughs.
- Providers, nurses, medical assistants, and support staff who have strong ties to the communities we serve.
- ACPNY doctors and providers participate in all EmblemHealth plans. ACPNY is part of the EmblemHealth family of companies.
Neighborhood Care
- Locations throughout New York City, making it simpler and more convenient for you to get the care you need.
- Free health and wellness classes for members and non-members alike.
- Help finding local doctors, in-person and virtual customer support, and connect to community resources.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022, 2023
NY State Department of Health, 2020, 2021 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health