Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When blood sugar rises, your pancreas releases insulin—a hormone that helps your cells absorb sugar for energy. In people with diabetes, this process doesn’t work properly, leading to elevated blood sugar levels that can cause serious health issues over time.

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes:
  An autoimmune condition where the body attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence but can occur at any age. People with Type 1 diabetes need daily insulin injections to survive.
• Type 2 Diabetes:
  This is the most common form and is often linked to lifestyle factors and genetics. The body either becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough. It can often be managed (or even prevented) through diet, exercise, and medication.
• Gestational Diabetes:
  This type occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth, but it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

As a college student, your life comes with its own set of challenges like irregular eating, lack of sleep, high stress, and reduced physical activity. These factors can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, especially if you have a family history or other risk factors such as increased body fat or high blood pressure.

Even if you’re not at high risk, being informed about diabetes can help you support friends or roommates who live with the condition.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Whether you’re looking out for yourself or someone else, common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, and unexplained weight loss. If you notice any of these signs, please seek medical attention.

Type 2 diabetes is sneaky and often has no symptoms. This is why it is so important to be seen yearly for a physical exam. Routine blood tests can help detect pre-diabetes and diabetes. Your Florida Atlantic Student Health Clinic has providers who can help. Our physicians know how to manage diabetes and pre-diabetes. We also have a dietitian who can help you map out an approach to eating that will help you manage your diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Diabetes may seem like a far-off issue, but the habits you build in college can impact your long-term health. By staying informed, eating well, and staying active, you’re not just preventing diabetes, you’re setting the foundation for a healthier life.

To get screened, you can schedule an appointment with a provider at your Student Health Clinic by visiting https://shs-portal.fau.edu or call or visit one of our clinic locations:

Boca Raton Clinic 561-297-3512

2nd Floor Across from the Food Court, SS-8W, Room 240

Davie Clinic 954-236-1556

Student Union, SD Room 206

 

Jupiter Campus 561-799-8678

Student Resources Building, SR Room 106