Diabetes Prevention

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Diabetes is a chronic, or long-lasting, disease that affects hour your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.

Healthy and balanced diet

Diabetes in Idaho

1 in 10

Idaho adults normally report being diagnosed with diabetes

146,844

Idaho adults are living with diabetes (2023)

8th

leading cause of death in Idaho (2022)

Diabetes Risk Factors

  • Over age 45 
  • Family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) 
  • High cholesterol 
  • High blood pressure (Hypertension) 
  • Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, or Pacific Islander 
  • Sedentary Lifestyle 
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome 
  • Screening for gestational diabetes after 24 weeks 

Prediabetes Risk Test –

What are the types of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body stops making insulin or makes very little insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults but can develop at any age. People with type 1 diabetes take insulin every day. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Approximately 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.  

Visit JDRF to learn more about type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or does not respond to insulin the way it should. Most people with diabetes have type 2.  

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy in women with no history of diabetes. About 2-10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. The problems of gestational diabetes in pregnancy include a baby born early, a very large baby (9 pounds or more), a high chance of needing a C-section, high blood pressure (preeclampsia), and/or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after delivery. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but half of the moms go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Babies born to mothers who have gestational diabetes are more likely to grow up with unhealthy weight and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. 

Visit the CDC to learn more about gestational diabetes and pregnancy. 

  

Contact Us

Timalee Geisler, MHE
Phone: 208-533-3149
Email: tgeisler@eiph.idaho.gov