Diabetes – Managing Your Diabetes

Control Your Diabetes

You may have heard people say they have “a touch of diabetes” or that their “sugar is a little high.” These words suggest that diabetes is not a serious disease. That is not true. Diabetes is serious, but you can learn to manage it.

Who Can Help

A critical factor in managing your diabetes is having knowledgeable health care providers who can give you the right tools. A health care provider may be a:

• Medical doctor
• Diabetes educator
• Eye doctor
• Mental health counselor
• Nurse practitioner
• Social worker
• Dentist
• Dietitian
• Foot doctor
• Nurse
• Pharmacist

Why You Should Manage Your Diabetes

Taking care of yourself and your diabetes can help you feel better. Regular self-care may help you avoid health problems caused by diabetes, such as:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Visual impairment or blindness
• Nerve damage, which can cause extremities to hurt, tingle or feel numb and, in severe cases, lead to amputation
• Kidney failure
• Gum disease and tooth loss

When your blood glucose is close to normal you are likely to:

• Have more energy
• Be less tired and thirsty and urinate less often
• Heal better and have fewer skin or bladder infections
• Have fewer problems with your eyesight, feet and gums

Know Your Diabetes ABC’s

A is for the A1C Test
This test shows you what your blood glucose has been over the last three months. The A1C goal for most people is to stay below 7. High blood glucose levels can harm your heart and blood vessels, kidneys, feet and eyes.

B is for Blood Pressure
The goal for most people with diabetes is to stay below 130/80. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard, and can cause heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

C is for Cholesterol
LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, can build up and clog your blood vessels. It can cause heart attack and stroke. The LDL goal for most people is to stay below 100.

HDL, or "good" cholesterol, helps remove cholesterol from your blood vessels. The HDL goal for most people is to stay above 40.

Make Lifestyle Changes

You can avoid the long-term problems of diabetes by taking good care of yourself.

• Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, chicken or turkey without the skin, dry peas or beans, whole grains, and lowfat or skim milk and cheese.
• Keep fish, lean meat and poultry portions to about 3 ounces (or the size of a deck of cards). Bake, broil or grill it.
• Eat foods that have less fat and salt.
• Eat foods with more fiber, such as whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta.
• Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Brisk walking is a great way to move more.
• Stay at a healthy weight by eating healthier foods and keeping active.
• Ask for help if you feel down. Talking to a mental health counselor, support group, member of the clergy, friend or family member who will listen to your concerns may help you feel better.
• Learn to cope with stress. Stress can raise your blood glucose. While it is hard to remove stress from your life, you can learn to handle it.
• Stop smoking. Ask for help to quit. Call (800) QUIT-NOW, or (800) 784-8669, or go to www.quitlinenc.com.
• Take medicines even when you feel good. Ask your doctor if you need aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Tell your doctor if you can’t afford your medicines or if you have any side effects.
• Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, red spots and swelling. Immediately call your health care provider about any sores that don’t go away.
• Brush your teeth and floss every day to avoid problems with your mouth, teeth or gums.
• Check your blood glucose. Test it one or more times a day. Write the numbers down and take the written record to your doctor visits.
• Check your blood pressure if your doctor advises you do so.
• Report any changes in you eyesight to your doctor.

Get Routine Medical Care to Avoid Problems

See your health care provider at least twice a year to find and treat any problems early. Ask what steps you can take to reach your goals.

At each visit be sure you have a:

• Blood pressure check
• Foot check
• Weight check
• Review of your self-care plan

Two times each year have an:

• A1C test – it may be checked more often if is over 7.

Once each year have a:

• Cholesterol test
• Triglyceride test – a type of blood fat
• Dental exam to check teeth and gums – tell your dentist you have diabetes
• Dilated eye exam to check for eye problems
• Flu shot
• Urine and a blood test to check for kidney problems

Get a pneumonia shot at least once.

Source: National Diabetes Education Program 
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/4_Steps.pdf and/or 
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/control/4steps.htm

My Diabetes Care Record

Record your targets and the date, time and results of your tests. Take this information with you on your health care visits. Show it to your health care team to remind them of tests you need.

Self-Checks of Blood Glucose
Record your targets and the date, time and results of your tests. Take this information with you on your health care visits. Show it to your health care team to remind them of tests you need.