What do we know about diabetes?

  • We know that there are two major types of diabetes with the most prevalent type called “Type 2 Diabetes”
  • We know that we do inherit genetic risks for diabetes
  • We know that certain ethnic/racial groups of people face a greater risk for diabetes than other people
  • We know that we increase our risks for Type 2 Diabetes through unhealthy lifestyles; eating unhealthy and not being physically active
  • We know that overweight and obesity increase the risk for diabetes from infancy throughout life
  • Over the past 40 years scientists have unraveled many of the secrets of diabetes. This has led to discoveries that have improved the diagnosis of diabetes and found better treatments for diabetes and its complications.
  • People with diabetes are living longer and healthier by taking advantage of these new treatments and by taking charge of their health through learning the skills of self-management of their diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes

  • Blood sugar (glucose) higher than normal but not high enough for diabetes
  • Can be called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) OR impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
  • Higher risk of heart and blood vessel diseases
  • Can be treated to prevent or delay getting diabetes

Who should be tested?

  • People who are overweight
  • People age 45 or older
  • People younger than 45 IF
    • they have high blood pressure
    • they have low HDL cholesterol
    • they have high triglycerides
    • they have a member of their family with diabetes
    • they are African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American
    • they have given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds at birth

How often should I be tested?

  • Every 3 years if the blood test is normal
  • Every 1-2 years if your blood test is higher than normal

What is the test?

  • There are two tests; have only one of them
  • Fasting plasma blood glucose (FPG):
    • Do not eat anything for 8 hours before the test
    • Have the lab draw the blood from your arm
    • Test results can show normal blood sugar = less than 100 mg/dl
    • Or a higher number between 100 and 125 mg/dl = pre-diabetes
    • Or a result of 126 or more = diabetes
  • Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT):
    • Do not eat anything for 8 hours before the test
    • The lab will draw blood from your arm
    • You will drink a very sweet drink
    • Wait for two hours
    • The lab will draw blood again
    • Test results can show a normal test = less than 140 mg/dl
    • Or a higher number between 140 and 199 mg/dl = pre-diabetes
    • Or a result of 200 and above = diabetes

You can have pre-diabetes and not know it. Most people do not have any signs.

Metabolic Syndrome

  • a collection of health risks that increase your chances of having heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

What are the health risks?

  • Waist size of:
    Men — Greater than 40 inches
    Women — Greater than 35 inches
  • Fasting blood triglycerides greater than or equal to 150 mg/dl
  • Blood HDL cholesterol:
    Men — Less than 40 mg/dl
    Women — Less than 50 mg/dl
  • Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg
  • Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl

You have Metabolic Syndrome if you have three of the above health risks.

More than one in five Americans has Metabolic Syndrome.


Diabetes

  • The body does not make insulin – OR -
  • Does not use insulin as it should
  • Causes high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
  • Types
    • Type 1 – the body does not make insulin
    • Type 2 – the body makes insulin but does not use insulin as it should
    • Gestational – diabetes of pregnancy
      • Related to type 2 diabetes

What are the signs of diabetes (high sugar) (hyperglycemia)?

  • Thirst
  • Hunger
  • Feeling tired
  • Increased urination
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow healing of wounds

What is the treatment of diabetes?

  • Type 1 – insulin, food plan, activity plan, monitoring
  • Type 2 – food plan, activity plan, monitoring, medicine if needed
  • Gestational – food plan, activity plan, monitoring, medicine if needed

What does monitoring care mean?

To monitor:

Things to do each day at home:

  • Test your blood sugar as directed by your doctor
  • Eat your meals at about the same time each day
  • Eat about the same amount of food at each meal
  • Keep a record of blood sugar tests and eating
  • Check your feet for redness or soreness
  • Be physically active

Things to do every three months:

  • See your health care provider
  • Take your blood sugar testing records to the office visit
  • Have an A1c test
  • Take your shoes and socks off at the office visit
  • Make a list of questions about your care
  • Have your blood pressure checked
  • Make sure you have the right medicines

Things to do every year:

  • Have a dilated eye exam
  • Get a flu shot
  • Have your urine checked for protein
  • Have the fats checked in your blood

Other:

  • Talk with your health care provider about getting a pneumonia shot
  • Ask for help to stop smoking


Some diabetes medicines cause the blood sugar to drop. When not enough food is eaten or too much activity happens, the blood sugar can drop too low (hypoglycemia).

Signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

  • Feeling shaky
  • Hunger
  • Feeling tired
  • Sweating
  • Blurred vision
  • Being crabby
  • Irritable

Treatment for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

  • Check blood sugar
  • Eat half of a sandwich – OR-
  • Drink a glass of milk
  • Wait 15 minutes
  • Check blood sugar
  • Eat more if blood sugar not back to normal
  • If unable to swallow or not responding to eating, call for help!

Ask your health professional if the medicine you take causes low blood sugar.

The information provided here does not take the place of medical advice from your doctor. If you have questions or need advice, please contact your doctor.

A1c Test - Hemoglobin A1c test (he' me-glo'bin A-one-C)

  • The test measures your blood sugar over the last 3 months.
  • The test is the best way to know that your blood sugar is in control.
  • Normal A1c is between 4 and 6 %.
  • The test must be done twice each year
  • Can be done more often when blood sugar is not in control

Blood Pressure

  • Measures the force of the blood on the walls of the blood vessels
  • Normal is 120/80

Blood Lipids (Cholesterol, fats)

  • Cholesterol is made in the liver (whether we eat it or not)
  • Maintains healthy cells
  • LDL (“lousy” cholesterol) – keep less than 100 mg/dl
  • HDL (“good” cholesterol) – for women, keep above 50 mg/dl and for men, keep above 40 mg/dl.
  • Total cholesterol – keep less than 200 mg/dl
  • Triglycerides – keep less than 200 mg/dl

Kids and type 2 diabetes

  • Kids get (adult) type 2 diabetes
  • Many have type 2 diabetes and do not know it
  • There are few signs of diabetes so a child could have diabetes for 5-10 years and not know it
  • Children ages 10-14 doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medicines between 2002 and 2005

Which kids are at risk?

  • Kids who are overweight
  • Kids who are not active
  • Kids in families that have diabetes
  • Kids who have high blood pressure
  • Kids who have high blood fats
  • Kids between the ages of 8 and 19
  • American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian/South Pacific Islander kids. It also occurs in Caucasians.

How can I get my kid tested?

  • See your doctor
  • Have one or more blood tests to check for high sugar in the blood.

Remember, type 2 diabetes often does not have signs but…..
Some kids have one or more of the following:

  • Dark patches of skin on their necks and underarms
  • Eat or drink more than usual
  • Lose weight even though they eat a lot
  • Need to urinate often
  • Feel tired.














 
 

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