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Diabetes requires a long-term partnership between the patient and the health care team. Careful control of blood sugar levels can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney and eye damage. There are many things you can do to keep your diabetes in check.
Diabetes means that the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood is too high. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is used by your body as fuel. Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which normally helps move glucose from food into your body’s cells. Insulin controls blood glucose levels.
When you have diabetes, your pancreas either makes too little insulin or your body does not use insulin well. As a result, glucose builds up in your blood because your body cannot use it properly.
Persistently high blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels, kidneys, and nerves. This can lead to circulation problems, eye damage, blindness, kidney failure, problems with digestion, foot injuries, and impotence. It can also increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. That is why controlling your blood sugar is so important.
Pre-diabetes develops in people whose glucose levels are higher than normal, but not so high that they have diabetes. These patients have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body does not use insulin properly (“insulin resistance”). To make up for this, your pancreas produces extra insulin, but may eventually wear out and stop working.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. This type usually occurs in people under age 30. Patients with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to help their bodies use glucose.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman has high blood glucose levels while pregnant.
You and your doctor can do several things to monitor your diabetes and keep your blood sugar levels in control. See your doctor regularly (at least every three months) to talk about how you are doing. Your doctor may also test your:
Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood glucose levels are too low. This can happen if you don’t eat enough or as often as needed. Hypoglycemia can also occur if you drink alcohol, take too much medicine, or exercise more than normal. Talk to your doctor about hypoglycemia. Call right away if you feel dizzy, tired, hungry, shaky or confused.
You can prevent problems related to diabetes if you lose weight, exercise, and eat right. It is also important to monitor your blood sugar levels at least once per day, more often if advised by your doctor. Talk with your doctor about what you can do to manage your diabetes.
Some useful information for patients is provided by the:
American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp, and the National Institutes of Health, http://www.nih.gov/.
You can manage your diabetes by:
| HIGH IN: | LOW IN: |
| fruits and vegetables | sugars, sweets |
| poultry, fish & lean meat | salt |
| low fat dairy | alcohol |
| whole grains | saturated fats |
Regular, moderate activity can help you manage your diabetes, control weight, and reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke.
YOUR GOAL: Be physically active…
Ask your doctor if you should have any limits on activity. Begin slowly, and move up as you can. Set goals for yourself and plan an exercise schedule. Choose a time of day that works for you, and do a variety of activities you like.
If you smoke, you must quit. Smoking increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke (in addition to many kinds of cancer). Smoking is especially dangerous in people with diabetes.
YOU are the most important person on your health care team. It is important that you talk with your doctor regularly and take responsibility to stay healthy. Your checklist should include:
If you have diabetes, you may need a medication to help keep your blood glucose levels normal. It is important to take your medicine as prescribed, even if you feel well. If you stop taking your medicine for any reason, please call your doctor to talk about it.
Your doctor may choose metformin as a first choice. This drug helps people stay at a healthy weight and does not cause hypoglycemia. Metformin is also affordable, as are generic sulfonylureas. The table below lists different diabetes medicines and how they work.
| TYPE: | ACTION: |
| Metformin | Decrease glucose made by liver |
| Sulfonylureas | Increase insulin production |
| Insulin | Move glucose into cells |
| Meglitinides | Increase insulin production |
| Incretin mimetics | Increase insulin production |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Slow food absorption |
| D-phenylalanine derivatives | Increase insulin production |
| Glitazones | Increase insulin sensitivity |
Remember that diabetes medicines do not take the place of weight loss, healthy eating, exercise, and self-monitoring. Many patients will eventually need insulin to control their blood sugar levels. While insulin treatment requires a daily injection, it is simple to use and is very effective for controlling blood sugar levels.