Katie Garagnon

ISM-Period 6

“Prediabetes - Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 June 2018,

www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html.

• Prediabetes is characterized by blood sugar levels that are higher than the average/normal
level, but not yet significant enough for having type II diabetes.
• “Approximately 84 million American adults-more than 1 out of 3- have prediabetes.”
• 90% of people with prediabetes are unaware that they even have the condition.
• Greater risk of type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke.
• Those with prediabetes can make changes in their lifestyles to prevent developing these.
• Cells have abnormal response to insulin (secreted by pancreas and “acts like a key to let
blood sugar into the cells to be used as energy”) in which they force the pancreas to
overproduce insulin since they do not respond which leads to blood sugar levels that are
too high.
• Prediabetes goes undetected because people do not present with symptoms, which is why
most do not know they have it.
• “Risk factors include: being overweight, ages 45+, parent/sibling with type II diabetes,
being physically active less than 3 times per week, gestational diabetes and/or giving
birth to a baby 9+ pounds, those with polycystic ovarian syndrome.”
• African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and
Asian Americans have greater risk.
• How do you find out if you have prediabetes? A simple blood sugar test.
• Prediabetes is reversible.
• CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program: lifestyle changes.
• This program reduces your risk of type II diabetes by 58% and for those above 60: 71%.
• Weight loss is recommended (around 5%-7%).

This source is efficient and comes from reliable sources, since it is a government organization
and provides thorough information about the background of prediabetes and how to determine if
you have it and the next steps to take if you do.
 Katie Garagnon
ISM-Period 6

“Gestational Diabetes: Testing and Treatment.” American Pregnancy Association: Promoting

Pregnancy Wellness, American Pregnancy Association, 24 Nov. 2018,

americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/gestational-diabetes/.

• AKA glucose intolerance/carbohydrate intolerance.

• All pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes at one point (typically between
week 24-28 due to production of various hormones by the placenta = insulin resistance).
• Test: drink provided sweet drink + wait 1 hour + blood testing for insulin levels.
• Testing may be administered more frequently throughout the course of the pregnancy if
the mother is older than 35 and/or overweight and depending on their family history.
• Gestational diabetes is typically temporary and goes away after the birth.
• Inadequate insulin levels result in insufficient sugar regulation.
• “Approximately 2-5% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes; this number may
increase to 7-9% of mothers who are more likely to have risk factors.”
• Closely monitor mother’s blood glucose and baby, insulin therapy, and diet/exercise.
• Can still have healthy babies if attentive.
• Untreated gestational diabetes leads to complications: “large birth weight, premature
delivery, increased chance of cesarean delivery, increased risk of fetal/neonatal death.”
• Gestational diabetes = more susceptible to type II diabetes in the future.
• Test few months after birth to ensure levels became stable.
• Post-partum: watch out for excessive thirst, frequent urination, & elevated sugar in
blood/urine = signs of type II.
• “Primary means of treating gestational diabetes is controlling your blood sugar levels.”
• Human Placental Lactogen = hormone produced in placenta that facilitates sugar/energy
to the baby and blocks mother’s insulin (too much HPL = gestational diabetes).

This source has proved to be reliable and provides information regarding gestational diabetes as
stated by the American Pregnancy Association that has been helpful towards my research
synonymously with how it helps mothers affected by this condition.
 Katie Garagnon
ISM-Period 6

Wisse, Brent. “Diabetic Ketoacidosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S.

National Library of Medicine, 16 Jan. 2018, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000320.htm.

• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) = body breaks down fats too rapidly.

• Afflicts those with diabetes, especially type I.
• Can be a precursor to type I/indicate you may have it as a first sign if you are undiagnosed.
• Body’s signal for insulin is dangerously low resulting in glucose not able to enter cells for
energy so the liver makes elevated levels of blood sugar then fat is broken down too fast.
• The fat is broken down into ketones, which make the blood acidic and accumulate in the
blood and urine.
• Ketones are being produced too rapidly and the blood is becoming too acidic.
• Type I diabetes= can be triggered by “infection, injury, serious illness, missing doses of
insulin shots, or surgery”.
• Type II diabetes= less common, lesser in severity, usually triggered by not monitoring
glucose, missing medicines, or severe infection/illness.
• Characterized by famous sign: having sweet/fruity-smelling breath.
• Most common test is ketone test, especially in urine (can also be tested in blood).
• Other common symptoms: “decreased alertness, deep/rapid breathing, dry skin/mouth,
flushed face, frequent urination or thirst that lasts for a day or longer, headache, muscle
stiffness/aches, nausea/vomiting, and abdominal pain”.
• Medical emergency
• Complications: edema, cardiac arrest, kidney failure.
• Leads to serious life-threatening ailments and even death if not treated in an efficient
timely manner.
• Do not wait if you suspect ketones.

This professional online encyclopedia provided so much information on diabetic ketoacidosis

and I found it easy to navigate through because it was organized into the different sub-sections
and included almost everything about DKA.