Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1Diabetes and Type 2Diabetes

 Learn about Diabetes:- You can learn how to take care of your diabetes and prevent some of the serious problems diabetes can cause. The more you know, the better you can manage your diabetes. Share this booklet with your family and friends so they will understand more about diabetes. Also make sure to ask your health care team any questions you might have.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is when your blood glucose*, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is the main type of sugar found in your blood and your main source of energy. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. Your blood carries glucose to all of your body’s cells to use for energy. Your pancreas—an organ, located between your stomach and spine, that helps with digestion—releases a hormone it makes, called insulin, into your blood. Insulin helps your blood carry glucose to all your body’s cells. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work the way it should. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Your blood glucose levels get too high and can cause diabetes or prediabetes. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is when the amount of glucose in your blood is above normal yet not high enough to be called diabetes. With prediabetes, your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are higher. With some weight loss movie and moderate physical activity, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. You can even return to normal glucose levels, possibly without taking any medicines.

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

The signs and symptoms of diabetes are 

● being very thirsty 

● urinating often 

● feeling very hungry 

● feeling very tired 

● losing weight without trying 

● sores that heal slowly 

● dry, itchy skin 

● feelings of pins and needles in your feet 

● losing feeling in your feet 

● blurry eyesight Some people with diabetes don’t have any of these signs or symptoms. 

The only way to know if you have diabetes is to have your doctor do a blood test.

What kind of diabetes do you have?

The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. People can develop diabetes at any age. Both women and men can develop diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes 

Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes, develops most often in young people; however, type 1 diabetes can also develop in adults. In type 1 diabetes, your body no longer makes insulin or enough insulin because the body’s immune system, which normally protects you from infection by getting rid of bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances, has attacked and destroyed the cells that make insulin. 

Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes 

● taking shots, also called injections, of insulin. 

● sometimes taking medicines by mouth. 

● making healthy food choices. 

● being physically active. 

● controlling your blood pressure levels. Blood pressure is the force of blood flow inside your blood vessels. 

● controlling your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a type of fat in your body’s cells, in your blood, and in many foods. 

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes, can affect people at any age, even children. However, type 2 diabetes develops most often in and older people. People who are overweight and inactive are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance—a condition that occurs when fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin to carry glucose into the body’s cells to use for energy. As a result, the body needs more insulin to help glucose enter cells. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by making more insulin. Over time, the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin when blood sugar levels increase, such as after meals. If your pancreas can no longer make enough insulin, you will need to treat your type 2 diabetes. 

Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes 

● using diabetes medicines 

● making healthy food choices 

● being physically active 

● controlling your blood pressure levels 

● controlling your cholesterol levels

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes can develop when a woman is pregnant. Pregnant women make hormones that can lead to insulin resistance. All women have insulin resistance late in their pregnancy. If the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin during pregnancy, a woman develops gestational diabetes. Overweight or obese women have a higher chance of gestational diabetes. Also, gaining too much weight during pregnancy may increase your likelihood of developing gestational diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes most often goes away after the baby is born. However, a woman who has had gestational diabetes is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers who had gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

Read more about diabetes and pregnancy in What I need to know about Gestational Diabetes at www.healthcare247.us

Why do you need to take care of your diabetes?

Over time, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your blood vessels, heart, nerves, kidneys, mouth, eyes, and feet. These problems can lead to an amputation, which is surgery to remove a damaged toe, foot, or leg, for example. 

The most serious problem caused by diabetes is heart disease. When you have diabetes, you are more than twice as likely as people without diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. With diabetes, you may not have the usual signs or symptoms of a heart attack. The best way to take care of your health is to work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in your target range. Targets are numbers you aim for

Who is part of your health care team? 

Most people with diabetes get care from primary care providers, such as internists, family physicians, or pediatricians. A team of health care providers can also improve your diabetes care. In addition to a primary care provider, your health care team may include 

● an endocrinologist for more specialized diabetes care 

● a dietitian, a nurse, or a certified diabetes educator— experts who can provide information about managing diabetes 

● a counselor or mental health professional 

● a pharmacist 

● a dentist 

● an ophthalmologist or an optometrist for eye care 

● a podiatrist for foot care 

If diabetes makes you feel sad or angry, or if you have other problems that worry you, you should talk with a counselor or mental health professional. Your doctor or certified diabetes educator can help you find a counselor. Talk with your doctor about what vaccines and immunizations, or shots, you should get to keep from getting sick. Preventing illness is an important part of taking care of your diabetes. When you see members of your health care team, ask lots of questions. Prepare a list of questions before your visit. Be sure you understand everything you need to know about taking care of your diabetes.

Take Care of Your Diabetes Each Day 

Do four things each day to help your blood glucose levels stay in your target range: 

● Follow your healthy eating plan. 

● Be physically active. 

● Take your medicines as prescribed. 

● Monitor your diabetes. 

These things may seem like a lot to do at first. Just make small changes until these steps become a normal part of your day.

Follow Your Healthy Eating Plan 

Ask your doctor to give you the name of someone trained to help you create a healthy eating plan, such as a dietitian. This plan, often called medical nutrition therapy, will include regular monitoring by your dietitian and education about how to adjust your eating habits as the need occurs.

 Medical nutrition therapy is usually covered by insurance or Medicare as long as your doctor refers you. Your dietitian can help you plan meals that include foods that you and your family like and that are good for you

Your healthy eating plan will include 

● breads, cereals, rice, and whole grains 

● fruits and vegetables 

● meat and meat substitutes 

● dairy products 

● healthy fats Your plan will also help you learn how to eat the right amount, or portions, of food. Making good food choices will

● help you reach and stay at a healthy weight 

● keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control 

● prevent heart and blood vessel disease

Take Your Medicines as Prescribed

If you have type 2 diabetes and are unable to reach your target blood glucose levels with a healthy eating plan and physical activity, diabetes medicines may help. Your doctor may prescribe you diabetes medicines that work best for you and your lifestyle. If you have type 1 diabetes, you need insulin shots if your body has stopped making insulin or if it doesn’t make enough. Some people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes also need to take insulin shots.

Diabetes Medicines 

Most people with type 2 diabetes use medicines other than insulin shots. People with type 2 diabetes use medicine to help their blood glucose levels stay in their target range. If your body makes insulin and the insulin doesn’t lower your blood glucose levels enough, you may need to take one or more medicines. Diabetes medicines come in pill and shot form. 

Some people take diabetes medicines once a day and other medicines more often. Ask your health care team when you should take your diabetes medicines. Sometimes, people who take diabetes medicines may also need insulin shots for a while. Be sure to tell your doctor if your medicines make you feel sick or if you have any other problems. If you get sick or have surgery, your diabetes medicines may no longer work to lower your blood glucose levels. Always check with your doctor before you stop taking your diabetes medicines.  

Target Range for Blood Glucose Levels

Most people with diabetes should try to keep their blood glucose levels as close as possible to the level of someone who doesn’t have diabetes. This normal target range is about 70 to 130. The closer to normal your blood glucose levels are, the lower your chance of developing serious health problems. Ask your doctor what your target levels are and when you should check your blood glucose levels with a meter. Make copies of the chart in the section “Your Diabetes Care Records” to take with you when you visit your doctor. Reaching your target range all of the time can be hard. Remember, the closer you get to your target range, the better you will feel.

The A1C Test 

Another test for blood glucose, the A1C—also called the hemoglobin A1C test, HbA1C, or glycohemoglobin test—is a blood test that reflects the average level of glucose in your blood during the past 2 to 3 months. 

 You should have the A1C test at least twice a year. If your result is not on target, your doctor may have you take the test more often to see if your A1C improves. For the test, your doctor will draw a sample of your blood during an office visit or send you to a lab to have your blood drawn. Your A1C test result is given as a percentage. Your A1C result plus the record of your blood glucose numbers show whether your blood glucose levels are under control.

 ● If your A1C result is too high, you may need to change your diabetes treatment plan. Your health care team can help you decide what part of your plan to change.

 ● If your A1C result is on target, then your diabetes treatment plan is working. The lower your A1C result, the lower your chance of having diabetes problems. 

Talk with your doctor about what your A1C target should be. Your personal target may be above or below the target shown in the chart.