How Diabetes Changes

It's not just you.
It's your diabetes.

You're exercising, eating healthy, and following the diabetes game plan recommended by your healthcare team. And still, despite your best efforts, your blood sugar levels are not in target range. Ask your TeamingUp Champions, and they'll agree: It may not be something you did wrong; it may be your diabetes.

Why diabetes changes

Diabetes changes over time. Along with diet and exercise, there are many medications that can help you move toward your blood sugar goals as your diabetes changes. If your healthcare provider wants you to start using different medications or change the dose of medicine you are currently on to help you control your blood sugar, it's not because of something you did wrong. It's kind of like when people need stronger glasses. It's not because they necessarily did something wrong; it might just be what their eyes now need.

How it happens

Diabetes changes over time. In people with type 2 diabetes:

• The body's cells change and become less responsive to insulin, which makes it harder for cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream
• In response, the pancreas will increase its production of insulin, but over time will not be able to keep up with the increased demand
• Beta cells, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, continue to decrease in both number and function, so the pancreas makes less and less insulin

In fact, research suggests that many people with type 2 diabetes may already have lost more than 50% of their beta cell function by the time their diabetes is diagnosed. To see how diabetes changes over time, watch the video.