Diabetes doesn’t check your weight or age: why it’s worth monitoring your blood sugar today
Diabetes is often seen as a condition that mainly affects people who are overweight or older. The reality is far more nuanced. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can affect people of very different lifestyles, ages, and body weights — sometimes even people who consider themselves perfectly healthy.
“Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition centred on a disruption in blood sugar regulation. The issue isn’t just high blood sugar itself, but the long-term complications it can cause,” explains Meliva’s Chief Medical Officer and general practitioner Dr Andreas Abel.
Two types of diabetes – one shared problem
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system destroys the cells that produce insulin. Little to no insulin is produced, and the person needs lifelong insulin therapy. An estimated 7,000 people in Estonia live with type 1 diabetes, a significant proportion of them children and young people.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common, accounting for around 90% of all diabetes cases. Here, the body does produce insulin, but cells no longer use it effectively. The condition develops gradually over years and often begins as prediabetes.
“It’s type 2 diabetes in particular that can very often be prevented, or at least delayed. The problem is that people don’t notice the warning signs, or don’t take them seriously,” says Dr Abel.
Prediabetes – a quiet warning before the disease
Prediabetes means blood sugar levels are higher than normal but don’t yet meet the diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes. An estimated tens of thousands of people in Estonia are living with prediabetes without knowing it.
Prediabetes is deceptive, since symptoms can be very vague or entirely absent. That said, some people may experience:
- frequent urination
- persistent thirst and a dry mouth
- fatigue even after a full night’s sleep
- blurred vision
- unexplained weight loss
“Many of these symptoms get written off as the result of a busy lifestyle, stress, or age. In reality, the body may have been signalling for a long time that blood sugar regulation isn’t working the way it should,” Dr Abel stresses.
The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed. Timely intervention — adjusting diet, increasing physical activity, and paying attention to sleep and stress — can prevent the progression to full type 2 diabetes.
Monitoring blood sugar brings knowledge and control
One of the most important steps with diabetes and prediabetes is awareness. Regularly measuring blood sugar helps you understand how your body responds to food, exercise, stress, and sleep.
“People are often surprised at how differently the body can react to foods or exercise that seem perfectly healthy. For example, strength training can temporarily raise blood sugar levels, while cardio training can actually lower them,” explains Dr Abel.
Beyond standard glucometers, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are increasingly used, offering a much more detailed picture of blood sugar fluctuations throughout the day. Continuous glucose monitoring kits and sensors are also reimbursed by Tervisekassa (the Estonian Health Insurance Fund), and patients can choose whichever manufacturer’s device suits them best.
“Continuous glucose monitoring isn’t just a technical convenience. It gives patients real insight into how their own body works and helps them make better everyday decisions,” says Dr Abel.
Health isn’t just a matter of genetics
While genetic predisposition plays a role in the development of diabetes, research shows that up to 80% of health outcomes are linked to lifestyle. That means informed choices — diet, physical activity, regular monitoring — can directly influence a person’s risk of developing the condition.
“Take control before the disease takes control of you. Monitoring your blood sugar is a simple step that can pay off enormously in the long run,” Dr Abel sums up.
