Well-Being, Wealth, N More

What would be better than controlling your type 2 diabetes and living a long and productive life? Everyone’s body and metabolism reacts differently to diet and medicine. That’s why there are so many medications to choose from. Even though the diet exchanges are the same, your needs are unique and should be addressed individually. Your physician, nutritionist, pharmacist, eye specialist, and anyone else you might need are your team. Use this team to help you “Live Long And Prosper.”

Controlling your diabetes is so important because there are so many diseases that can negatively affect your quality of life like the ones identified here:

• Heart disease

• stroke
• eye disease that can lead to a loss of vision or even blindness
• nerve damage that may cause a loss of feeling or pain in the hands, feet, legs, or other parts of the body and lead to problems such as lower limb amputation or erectile dysfunction
• kidney failure
• gum disease and loss of teeth (This information is from WebMD Online article on diabetes.)

The principles that will help you control your diabetes begin with the first principle and that is:

Principle 1: Learn as much as you can about Diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes happens to adolescents or pre-teen children. Their pancreas stops producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes. In addition to the insulin, people with this type of diabetes must take very good care of their bodies with the appropriate diet and working closely with their medical team to avoid complications as described above.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes generally do not know they have it. People at the highest risk for getting this disease include those that:

• are older than 45
• are overweight
• have a close family member such as a parent, a brother, or a sister who has or has had diabetes
• had diabetes during pregnancy
• had a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
• are African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or American Indian
• have high blood pressure
• have high cholesterol or other abnormal blood fats
• are inactive (from WebMD Online article on Diabetes)

Principle 2: Get Regular Care for Your Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it is important to

• see your primary physician, nutritionist, eye specialist, and other members of your team regularly
• make sure your treatment plan is working. If it is not, ask your physician to help you change it
• ask your family, friends, and co-workers for help and support when you need it

Work with your health care team to get the best help to control your diabetes.

Ask your health care team how often you need to see them for check-ups.

Write down the date and time for your next visit.

Ask your doctor, clinic or office staff, or pharmacist to help you find resources if you have problems paying for food, medicines, and medical supplies. You should be able to get Medicare or other insurance to help you pay for diabetes supplies.

Make a list of questions and concerns you want to talk about at your next visit to your health care team. (WebMD Online Article on Diabetes)

Principle 3: Learn How to Control Your Diabetes

Diabetes affects many parts of the body. To stay healthy, it is important to know how to eat the right foods, how to be physically active, and how to look after yourself. Using the following checklist will help you learn how to control your diabetes.

How Active Are You in Controlling Your Diabetes?

Look at the list below. Check all the boxes that describe you.

I talk to my health care team about:

• my special needs to help control my diabetes
• ways to improve my ABC numbers: A1C,* Blood pressure, and Cholesterol
• aspirin therapy to prevent heart problems
• getting regular physical activity
• quitting smoking, if needed

I learn from my doctor, diabetes educator, podiatrist, pharmacist, or dietitian how to

• follow a meal plan to control my diabetes
• check my feet every day
• take my medicines as prescribed
• check my blood glucose levels

*A1C (pronounced A-one-C) is a measure of your average blood glucose over the last three months. You should get this test at least twice a year.

I visit my

• doctor at least twice a year
• eye doctor each year and report any changes in vision
• dentist twice a year
• specialists as my doctor advises (WebMD Online Article on Diabetes)

Principle 4: Take Care of Your Diabetes ABCs

A major goal of treatment is to control the ABCs of diabetes: A1C (blood glucose average), Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. You can do this in many ways.

• Follow a meal plan that was made for you.
• Be active every day.
• Take your medicine as prescribed.
• Before taking any non-prescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal products, ask your pharmacist how they may affect your diabetes or prescription medicines.
• Test your blood glucose on a routine basis. (WebMD Online Article on Diabetes)

Principle 5: Monitor Your Diabetes ABCs

To reduce your risk for diabetes problems such as blindness, kidney disease, losing a foot or leg, and early death from heart attack or stroke, you and your health care team need to monitor the diabetes ABCs: A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. Talk to your health care team about how to reach your target numbers.

Get the A1C Test

The A1C test is usually done by your doctor. It measures how well your blood glucose has been controlled over the last three months. This test is very important because it tells how well you are taking care of your diabetes over the long term. It should be done at least twice a year.

• The target A1C for most people with diabetes is less than 7.

Know Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. This leads to strokes and other problems such as kidney disease. Your blood pressure should be checked at every visit. You may need to check it yourself.

• The target blood pressure for most people with diabetes is less than 130/80.

Know Your Cholesterol

LDL is the bad cholesterol that builds up in your blood vessels. It causes the vessels to narrow and harden, which can lead to a heart attack. Your doctor should check your LDL at least once a year.

• The target LDL cholesterol for most people with diabetes is less than 100.

Keep a Record of Your Results

Keeping a record of your results helps you reach your targets. It helps you know when you and your health care team need to take extra action.

Use a record card to keep track of your ABC numbers. (WebMD Online Article on Diabetes)

Principle 6: Prevent Long-Term Diabetes Problems

People with diabetes must control their blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol to prevent the problems of diabetes: heart attack, stroke, eye and kidney problems, nerve damage, impotence, foot or leg amputation, gum disease, and loss of teeth. Here are the key self-care activities to help you manage your diabetes and live a long and healthy life.

Daily

• Follow your diabetes meal plan with the correct portion sizes. Eat a variety of foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and salt.
• Be active every day.
• Take medicines as prescribed. If you have questions, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about your medicines.
• Look at your feet and wash and dry them well each day. Tell your podiatrist or health care team about any changes with your feet.
• Check your mouth daily for gum or tooth problems. Call your dentist right away if you have problems with your teeth or gums.

As Needed

• Test your blood glucose as prescribed by your doctor.
• Check your blood pressure as prescribed by your doctor.
• Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking.
• Make sure your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription is up to date so you can see clearly. Report any changes in your vision to your health care team.

Work with your health care team to prevent diabetes problems. (WebMD Online Article on Diabetes)

Principle 7: Get Checked for Long-Term Problems and Treat Them

See your health care team regularly to check for problems that diabetes can cause. Regular check-ups help to prevent problems or find them early when they can be treated and managed well. Along with the checks of your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol (see Principle 5), here are some tests that you will need:

PRINCIPLE 1
Learn as Much as You Can About Diabetes

PRINCIPLE 2
Get Regular Care for Your Diabetes

PRINCIPLE 3
Learn How to Control Your Diabetes

PRINCIPLE 4
Take Care of Your Diabetes ABCs

PRINCIPLE 5
Monitor Your Diabetes ABCs

PRINCIPLE 6
Prevent Long-Term Diabetes Problems

PRINCIPLE 7

Get Checked for Long-Term Problems and Treat Them  

People with diabetes who keep their blood glucose,
cholesterol, and blood pressure under control
can expect to live a long and active life.

• The target glucose range for most people using whole blood is 80 to 120 before meals and 100 to 140 at bedtime.
• The target glucose range for most people using plasma is 90 to 130 before meals and 110 to 150 at bedtime.

Ask your health care team what your blood glucose targets are before meals, after meals, and at bedtime and write them down. (WebMD Article on Diabetes)

Thanks to WebMD, the information identified above will help take care of whatever type of diabetes you may have. Tomorrow’s article will focus on “Living and Managing” with diabetes, so stay tuned. I really hope that these articles are helping to educate you  about a disease that is growing out of proportion in the United States right now. See you tomorrow!