How Home-Testing Can Help You Live a Long Life with Diabetes

Diabetes isn’t a death sentence. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 33, actress Mary Tyler Moore enjoyed a successful, multi-decade acting career. She didn’t just survive, she thrived – living to the age of 80. There are stories of people with diabetes celebrating their 90th birthday. It’s possible. The question is, how? 

Living with diabetes isn’t easy. You have to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and check your glucose levels regularly. Yet by carefully managing the condition, you can enjoy a happy, healthy life for years, even decades. 

The good news is that thanks to recent advances in AI-driven healthcare, you can now benefit from the experiences of thousands of people just like you. Kyla Clinics leverages artificial intelligence to not only ensure accurate diagnoses but also predict future health issues. This not only helps anyone living with diabetes, but everyone who wants to extend their life. That’s because Kyla’s proprietary risk engine empowers you to prevent future illnesses. You can even receive a free analysis just by downloading the app. 

Whether or not you have diabetes, if you or someone in your family is having issues managing blood sugar levels, then it’s vital that you examine your diet and fitness routine. You might also consider a simple home test to learn your glucose levels. And if you’re wondering about the secret to not only living with diabetes but enjoying a long and happy life, read on. 

You Might Not Realize You’re Already Pre-diabetic

Diabetes has some common and well known symptoms. Excessive thirst and frequent urination. Fatigue or blurred vision. Tingling sensations in the hands or the feet;  darkening of the skin around their neck, armpits, or groin. If you aren’t experiencing any of these symptoms, you could still have pre-diabetes.

High blood pressure is often called “the silent killer.” That’s because it’s stealthy –– often without any symptoms. Pre-diabetes is very similar. If someone in your family is diabetic, your risk of becoming prediabetic is elevated. However, even people without a family history of the condition can develop it. 

Although pre-diabetics were once able to adequately process sugar, their ability to do so suddenly diminishes. In healthy people, as they eat and digest food, sugar enters their bloodstream. This sugar is able to enter your cells thanks to insulin leaving the pancreas (a gland that rests behind your stomach), and traveling through your blood as your blood sugar drops, the pancreas reduces its insulin production.

If you are pre-diabetic, instead of delivering an energy boost to your cells, sugar just builds up in your bloodstream. The risk factors for diabetes are the same ones for prediabetes: being overweight, inactive, or eating a good deal of red meat.

The first step in managing blood sugar levels is knowing your glucose levels. An easy way to do this is with an at-home test. Instead of dealing with traffic and waiting to see a doctor, Kyla offers a test that will not only tell you your blood sugar levels but also insights in your hormone levels, cardiovascular health, liver function, kidney health, inflammation markers, and thyroid function. While many at-home tests cost hundreds of dollars, Kyla’s is just $99! What’s great is that the test isn’t the last step but the first. That’s because skilled health care professionals will offer you insights into risk factors and other obstacles to a long and healthy life. 

A vital element of pre-diabetes management and managing blood sugar levels is eating foods with a low glycemic index. Since sugar scores a 100, you can imagine that foods that are higher on the scale can cause dangerous blood sugar spikes. These are usually followed by lightheadedness, dizziness, and the “need to feed.” So consider adding foods like oatmeal, apples, peanuts, Greek yogurt, bananas, and lentils. These foods are great for everyone but they are even better for people who are living with diabetes.

Diabetic Centenarians –– Living to 100 with Diabetes

Diabetes really was a death sentence. Before the discovery of insulin, living with diabetes was next to impossible. People unable to produce the hormone naturally rarely survived more than a few years. Half of those diagnosed with acute onset or Type 1 diabetes were dead within two years. Over 90% didn’t survive five years with the disease. Type 2 diabetes was more survivable. Yet many people with Type 2 also died. Living meant managing blood sugar levels  –– and subsisting on what was rightly called a starvation diet. 

Insulin’s discovery by Frederick Banting in 1922 changed the equation. Suddenly the condition was survivable. Except another problem quickly surfaced. Diabetics were living longer, only to succumb to chronic conditions. Risk factors for diabetes like heart and kidney disease along with issues with eyes, ears, mouth, and feet made living with the condition very difficult. 

While many things have changed, living with diabetes remains challenging. One hundred years after insulin’s discovery, a study revealed that people who don’t have type 2 diabetes at the age of 50 can expect to live six years longer than those who do. That’s why if you have diabetes it’s important for you to take charge of your health.

Exercise and diabetes are intricately linked. People who don’t exercise regularly are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. For people with the disease, exercise is vital. 

In fact, recent research suggests that weight training works better at controlling diabetes than just aerobic activity. That’s because it is more effective at regulating your glucose levels if you aren’t overweight and have type 2 diabetes. Of course when it comes to fitness, the real key is not just hitting the gym or visiting your local health club a few times a week. It’s about adding activity to your daily routine. Walk to a nearby store instead of driving. Take the stairs instead of an elevator. Give your dog a walk she’ll appreciate. 

While exercise is important, diet is also a big contributor to the growing numbers of people living with diabetes. Although there are other causes –– if someone in your immediate family has it, you’re more likely to get it as well –– what you eat and what you weigh plays an outsized role. Type 2 was once called “adult-onset diabetes.” That changed as patients became increasingly younger. Experts are in agreement that the rapid increase in the number of children who are overweight or obese is a major contributor to the growth of diabetes among young people. Indeed, while a healthy Body Mass Index is under 25, one out of five teens and children in the U.S. are obese with a BMI over 30. Over 40% of American adults are also obese.

Living with diabetes starts with a healthy diet and managing blood sugar levels. To live well, it’s important to exercise and watch your stress. You also need to have regular check-ups. A staunch advocate for these steps, Dr. V Mohan believes it’s possible for diabetics to celebrate their hundredth birthday. “Remember that the first ten years of diabetes management are important,” Mohan explained to The India Times. “If it is managed properly in the first decade, the person rarely develops complications. A person with diabetes can sometimes have a better quality of life than someone without if they maintain their health.”

Mohan’s five-step approach to living a long and healthy life with diabetes starts with early detection. So, along with managing blood sugar levels, reducing stress, staying active and getting a check-up the best thing you can do for your long term health is a simple at-home test. With just a needle prick and a $99 test from Kyla you can discover if your blood sugar levels put you at risk. If you already have diabetes, a qualified medical professional will explain what you need to do to lengthen your lifespan which can include medications, supplements, and personalized nutrition. The result is not just living with diabetes but living well. 

Sources: 

1. Mulvey, Alexandra. “Mary Tyler Moore, Breaking Ground, and the Fight to Save Vision,” JDRF. May 17, 2023. https://www.jdrf.org/blog/2023/05/17/mary-tyler-moore-breaking-ground-and-the-fight-to-save-vision/#:~:text=Mary was also diagnosed with,loss from diabetic eye disease.
2. Davis, Dr. Nichola, MD. “Ask Our Expert: Controlling “The Silent Killer” — High Blood Pressure,” NYC Health + Hospitals. https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/healthtips/ask-our-expert-dr-nichola-davis-shares-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-silent-killer-high-blood-pressure/#:~:text=That’s why high blood pressure,as heart disease or stroke.
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9. Kobayashi, Yukari et al. “Strength training is more effective than aerobic exercise for improving glycaemic control and body composition in people with normal-weight type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.” Diabetologia vol. 66,10 (2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37493759/
10. “Overweight & Obesity Statistics,” National Institutes of Health. September 2021. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity#:~:text=About 1 in 6 children,19 (16.1%) are overweight.&text=Almost 1 in 5 children,19 (19.3%) have obesity.&text=About 1 in 16 children,6.1%) have severe obesity.
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