Let Vital Source, USA, Be Your Diabetes Management Solution


Diabetes Learning Center

Important information you need to know about
managing your diabetes.

 

Diabetes 101

 

What is Diabetes?

          Diabetes means you have too much glucose in your blood. Glucose is a form of sugar your body uses for energy.  Your blood always has some glucose in it.  But too much glucose in your blood can damage your body over time. 

          Your body needs the hormone insulin to use glucose for energy. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly, you may develop diabetes.

          Diabetes can cause heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure and other serious health problems. But you can prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

          Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It occurs because the body doesn’t use insulin properly, a condition called insulin resistance. Over time, the cells that produce insulin cannot keep up with the body’s needs and diabetes develops.

You are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if you:

  • are age 45 or older
  • are overweight
  • are not physically active
  • have a family history of diabetes
  • have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • had gestational diabetes-diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 or more pounds.
  • have high blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes
  • are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander or Hispanic/Latino
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome
  • have dark, thick, velvety skin around your neck or armpits
  • have blood vessel problems affecting your heart, brain or legs

How do I know if I have Diabetes?

          Your doctor can test your blood. Some people have signs of diabetes, such as being thirsty, having to urinate often, of feeling tired.  But some people have no signs at all.

How can I take care of My Diabetes?

          You can take care of your diabetes by reading your targets for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. Talk with your doctor about your targets and how to reach them. Here are some ways to reach your targets. 

  • Make wise food choices. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats and low fat dairy products.  Learn when to eat and how much to have.
  • Be physically active 30 to 60 minutes each day.  For example, take a walk each day.
  • Take your medicines prescribed by your doctor and keep taking them, even after you’ve reached your targets.
  • Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke.
  • If you smoke, quit.

What is Pre-Diabetes?

     Pre-diabetes means you have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes, Glucose is a form of sugar your body uses for energy. Too much glucose in your blood can damage your body over time. Pre-diabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

     If you have prediabetes, you are more likely to develop diabetes type 2, heart disease and stroke. Being overweight and physically inactive contributes to pre-diabetes. You can sometimes reverse pre-diabetes with weight loss that comes form healthy eating and physical activity.

How do I know if I have pre-diabetes?

          Most people with pre-diabetes don’t have any symptoms. Your doctor can test your blood to find out if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal. 

When should I be tested for Pre-Diabetes?

          If you are 45 years or older, your doctor may recommend that you be tested for pre-diabetes, especially if you are overweight. Being overweight means your body mass index (BMI) is over 25. BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height.  If you’re not sure, ask your doctor if you are overweight.

          Even if you are younger than 45, consider getting tested if you are overweight and

  • are physically active less that three times a week
  • have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
  • have high blood pressure
  • have abnormal levels of HDL cholesterol or tryglycerides, or two types of blood fats
  • had gestational diabetes-diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
  • are African American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome
  • have dark, thick, velvety skin around your neck or in your armpits
  • have blood vessel problems affecting your heart, brain or legs

If the results are normal, you should be retested in 3 years. If you have pre-diabetes, you should be retested for type 2 diabetes every year or two.

What can I do about Pre-Diabetes?

Losing weight: at least 10-15 percent of your starting weight-can prevent or delay diabetes or even reverse pre-diabetes.  That’s 10-20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. You can lose weight by cutting down on the amount of calories and fat you consume and being physically active at least 30 minutes a day. Physical activity also helps make your body’s insulin work better.

          Ask your doctor if you should also take medicine to help control the amount of glucose in your blood.

Did you know that diabetes can lead to other very serious health conditions?

          Too much glucose, a type of sugar, in your blood can cause diabetes problems over time.  High blood glucose can cause heart and blood vessel disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Damage to the eyes can lead to loss of sight or blindness. Nerve damage and poor blood flow can cause foot problems, sometimes leading to amputation.
          You can prevent or delay diabetes problems by keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

How can I tell if I have diabetes problems?

You may have diabetes problems if:

  • your blood pressure is 130 over 80, written as 130/80 or higher
  • you have pain in your chest
  • you have blurry or double vision, or feel pain or pressure in your eyes
  • you have foot problems-such as blisters, ingrown toenails or cracked skin – that gets infected
  • your arms, hands, legs or feet feel numb or you feel shooting pains.

Some diabetes problems don’t have symptoms at first. For example, you cannot tell if your kidneys are damaged until they stop working altogether. Your doctor should test your urine every year to see how well your kidneys are working.

What can I do to stay healthy with diabetes?

          Controlling your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol can make a big difference in staying healthy. Talk with your doctor about what your ABC goals should be and how to reach them. A: Stands for A1C test- a measure of what your blood glucose has been for the last 3 months. B: Stands for blood pressure and C: Stands for Cholesterol. 

You can take these steps to reach your ABC goals:

  • Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor or dietician have discussed.
  • Be physically active for 30 to 60 minutes most days.
  • Take your medicines as directed and keep taking them, even after you’ve reached your goals.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
  • Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness or sore toenails.

What are some other Sources of Information about Diabetes?


Copyright © 2012 by Vital Source, USA
Website Design by Business Promotion, Inc.