World Diabetes Day
It's Diabetes Awareness Month in the US and today, November 14th, is World Diabetes Day. Diabetes will affect most of us at some point - whether through our own diagnosis or that of a loved one. Globally, diabetes affects approximately 537 million adults and rates are expected to continue rising (IDF 2021). In the United States, nearly half of the entire population (135.7 million Americans) has diabetes or prediabetes (CDC 2024). Given the lack of slowdown in diabetes rates, I'd argue that the prevention and management strategies that are traditionally used need major modification. Traditional approaches center around weight, food restriction, and personal responsibility. But, as I've outlined in my book Intuitive Eating for Diabetes: The No Shame, No Blame Non-Diet Approach to Managing Your Blood Sugar, restrictive approaches nearly always backfire and they lack a focus on the root causes of diabetes in the first place. Misinformation about diabetes is rampant. Below, I'll be sharing resources, such as articles, podcasts, social media accounts, and more that you may find helpful in better understanding the condition - regardless of whether you have diabetes or simply know someone that does. We all benefit when we're better informed.
What are the root causes of diabetes?
There are many underlying innate and systemic factors (root causes) that may contribute to the risk of diabetes development.
Do you recognize any of these factors as applicable to you?
✅ Weight Cycling: When the pursuit of weight loss leads to restrictive eating habits (aka dieting), weight cycling—weight loss followed by subsequent weight gain—is a nearly guaranteed result. A 2021 review of fourteen studies with more than 250,000 people found that individuals who weight cycled had a 23% increased risk of developing diabetes (Zou et al. 2021).
✅ Nutrient Deficiencies: Micronutrient deficiencies may lead to oxidative stress and subsequently, insulin resistance and diabetes
✅ Sleep patterns: Inadequate sleep (less than 7-8 hours per night), night shift work, and obstructive sleep apnea have been found to be associated with increased diabetes risk
✅ Social determinants of health (SDOH): This represents factors in our environment that influence our health, such as economic stability; education; health care access and quality; neighborhood and built environment; and social and community context (HHS n.d.). Higher educational attainment, income, occupational status, availability of full-service restaurants and grocery stores, social cohesion, and a living space that is more walkable and further away from highways are all factors associated with reduced diabetes risk. The converse is also true: low levels of education, income, job security, and housing stability along with higher levels of exposure to environmental contaminants, food insecurity, and racism are all correlated with poorer diabetes outcomes.
✅ Certain medications are associated with negative effects on blood glucose and some are found to pose an increased risk of developing diabetes. These include certain types of antibiotics used to treat UTIs and pneumonia; some types of atypical antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia or other mental illness; corticosteroids; calcineurin inhibitors used to treat autoimmune conditions; protease inhibitors used in the treatment of viral illnesses; and decongestants (Chou et al. 2013). In addition, many medications prescribed to manage blood pressure and cholesterol negatively impact blood glucose, such as thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics, niacin, statins, and beta-blockers (Goldie et al. 2016; Crandall et al. 2017).
✅ Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with increase risk for type 1, 2, and gestational diabetes.
✅ Genetic factors: Those destined to develop type 2 diabetes inherit a set of genes that make their tissues more resistant to insulin.
Do you identify with any of the root causes of diabetes described above? Has anyone ever mentioned these factors as potentially contributing to an increased diabetes risk? Want to discuss this further? Click the link below to schedule a call.
Diabetes Resource Share
Bookmark this email and come back to this resources as you need them. Below you'll find a variety of diabetes resources, from articles to podcasts to recommended follows.
Blog Articles:
What you need to know about Prediabetes
Diabetes Lab Testing: Hemoglobin A1c versus Fructosamine
15/15 Rule for Low Blood Sugar
Intuitive Eating for Diabetes Principles
9 Common Myths About Diabetes
Studies Show Weight Cycling May Increase Diabetes Risk
Ozempic, Rybelus, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Oh My!
Type 1 Versus Type 2 Diabetes
Podcast Episodes:
Food Psych: Blood Sugar Myths
Diabetes Digital: The Surprising Link Between Food Freedom and A1c
Full Plate: Cutting Carbs is Not a Diabetes Treatment Plan
Social Media Recommended Follows:
Substack Recommendations:
Weight and Healthcare by Ragen Chastain - "examines weight science, weight stigma, and what the evidence, ethics and lived experiences teach us about best healthcare and public health practices for higher weight people"
Jessica Knurick, PhD, RDN - writes about "nutrition, science, and public health - and the policies, politics, and misinformation shaping them all"
Julie Duffy Dillon - excellent weight-inclusive, anti-diet, PCOS resource
Rethinking Wellness - "critical thinking and compassionate skepticism about wellness and diet culture"
What resources would you add to this list? Let me know your favorites!
FREE Download: Chapter 1 of Intuitive Eating for Diabetes
If you don't yet have a copy of my book, Intuitive Eating for Diabetes, then here's my gift to you: download chapter one for free! Check out what others are loving about this resource by reading the first chapter.
If you like what you read (and I’m confident you will!), you can then purchase the book and read the remaining 8 chapters in the format that suits you best (print, e-book, or audiobook). After downloading chapter 1, you'll receive a 25% off coupon code to use at the publisher’s website!
