Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational. Approximately 85,200 people in Montana currently have a diabetes diagnosis. The percentage of Montana adults with diabetes has increased from 2.9% in 1990 to 7.9% in 2024. DPHHS MT Diabetes 101
Diabetes-related awareness and promotion months include:
March: National Kidney Month
March 13: World Kidney Day
March 25: American Diabetes Alert Day
July: Healthy Vision Month (diabetic retinopathy can be a focus here)
November: National Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month
November 14: World Diabetes Day
Podcast Episodes
Episodes 1, 2, 3, 12, 31, and 32 of the Talking Health in the 406 Podcast have compelling diabetes-related content.
Diabetes General Information
Montana Diabetes Program – www.diabetes.mt.gov
Diabetes 101 - https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/Diabetes/Diabetes101
Diabetes Prevention - https://diabetes-prevention-mtdphhs.hub.arcgis.com/
Diabetes Self-Management Education & Support - https://diabetes-self-management-education-services-mtdphhs.hub.arcgis.com/
Gestational Diabetes - https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/pregnancy/gestational-diabetes?loc=symptoms
American Diabetes Association: https://diabetes.org/
Zone Tool: What can your numbers tell you about diabetes
Data and Reports
Education and Resources
Adults
National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP)
Prediabetes Risk Test (Montana-specific)
Do I have Prediabetes (general risk test)
Children
Montana MEND – Healthy Together
MEND – which stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! - is a 10-week program for kids 6-13 and their caregivers to learn about healthy food, exercise, making small changes to improve health, and working together as a family to be healthy together.
The Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance (MYDA)
MYDA offers several avenues – including a fun summer camp – for kids and families living with type 1 diabetes, which can be really challenging for children and their caregivers to learn to live with.
In addition to camp, MYDA offers reimbursements of up to $500 per year per child with type 1 diabetes for out-of-pocket expenses and other community events around the state.
MEND – which stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! - is a 10-week program for kids 6-13 and their caregivers to learn about healthy food, exercise, making small changes to improve health, and working together as a family to be healthy together.
The Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance (MYDA)
MYDA offers several avenues – including a fun summer camp – for kids and families living with type 1 diabetes, which can be really challenging for children and their caregivers to learn to live with.
In addition to camp, MYDA offers reimbursements of up to $500 per year per child with type 1 diabetes for out-of-pocket expenses and other community events around the state.
Other Programs and Resources
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys slowly get damaged and can't do important jobs like removing waste and keeping blood pressure normal. CKD also increases the risk of other health problems like heart disease and stroke.
Developing CKD is usually a very slow process with very few symptoms at first. Many people living with CKD do not have any symptoms until the more advanced stages and/or complications develop. CKD is divided into 5 stages to help guide treatment decisions.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Symptoms & Treatment (Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center)
Zone Tool: What do your numbers tell you about Chronic Kidney Disease (separate pdf in trunk) - provided by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health
Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease (word document – image below – provided by Cleveland Clinic)
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes can affect your eye care, making it especially important to get a regular eye exam. Damaged blood vessels and abnormal new ones can cause vision loss.
DR can be identified through an eye exam. A diabetic eye exam focuses on detecting eye diseases caused by diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy and diabeticmacular edema. It typically includes pupil dilation, retinal imaging, and tests to check the health of the retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
Diabetic eye screening (DES): what to expect at your appointment
