August 2026
Diabetes warning signs, symptom management and lifestyle changes that can help
Diabetes is a very common chronic disease, especially among aging adults. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that around 35 million Americans live with Type 2 Diabetes.
Whether you or someone you love is living with Type 2 Diabetes or Type 1 Diabetes, PACE Southeast Michigan is here to help. Dr. Elizabeth Dowers, Physician Leader at PACE Southeast Michigan’s Eastpointe Center and a board-certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, answers five common questions about Diabetes.
What does diabetes do to a person?
Diabetes affects your body’s ability to make insulin, which it needs to help digest things like carbohydrates and sugar.
When someone has Diabetes and is having trouble making insulin, they can experience exceptionally high or low blood sugar levels. This can lead to various medical complications, from increased appetite to dangerous things like multi-organ failure.
What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
People with Type 1 Diabetes don’t have the ability to make insulin, whereas people with Type 2 Diabetes lose that ability over time due to lifestyle and risk factors they might have. Being overweight, having high blood pressure, family history, race or ethnicity, age, and having heart or kidney disease are all risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes.
When someone is developing Type 2 Diabetes, they might experience symptoms like needing to urinate more often, having increased thirst or appetite, becoming tired or dizzy a lot, developing sores or infections, or experiencing numbness in their hands or feet.
Does my diet impact Diabetes?
Small, consistent changes can have a big impact on managing Type 2 Diabetes specifically.
For instance, switching out a few sugary or carb-heavy items with fruit, vegetables, whole grains like oatmeal, and lean proteins like chicken or fish. You can still eat things you love while making a few swaps. Dr. Dowers recommends people order a salad or sweet potato fries to go with a burger instead of ordering regular French fries.
Does exercise have an effect on Diabetes?
Dr. Dowers says exercise and diet are just as important to managing Diabetes as medication is.
One of the best ways to combat Diabetes symptoms and help your body regulate itself is to get enough exercise. Dowers says low-impact exercises like stretching, walking, yoga or bowling can all make a big difference. She recommends people find an exercise they enjoy and then engage with it regularly.
How can PACE Southeast Michigan help a Diabetes patient?
With support from loved ones and our team here at PACE Southeast Michigan, we make sure our participants have all the tools they need to manage Diabetes.
Our interdisciplinary team collaborates to make individualized care plans for all our participants. For those with Diabetes, our pharmacists, rehab team and registered dietitians partner with our primary care team to create solutions that work for them and their goals.
To learn more about PACE Southeast Michigan, visit our enrollment page.