Diabetes lasts a lifetime. Poor control of
blood glucose (sugar) damages the body. Good
control of blood glucose can delay and even prevent diabetic complications.
What Problems Can Occur?
Some common diabetes problems are:
- Large blood vessel disease leading to heart disease, stroke, or gangrene.
- Small blood vessel disease leading to eye disease, kidney disease, or
gangrene.
- Nerve problems in the legs, arms, hands, or body organs.
- Gum disease.
Keeping your blood sugar within the target range acceptable to you and your doctor will
help you to fight complications.
What Can You Do To Prevent Complications?
- Follow a meal plan that controls calories, carbohydrates and fats. You may
also need to limit sodium to control blood pressure and limit protein to protect the
kidneys. If you have not seen a dietitian in the past 2 years, you need a meal plan
checkup. If you are overweight, a 10-20 pound weight loss can improve your blood
glucose and blood pressure.
- Take your medicines as prescribed. Make sure your doctor knows all the
medicines you take. Carry all your medicines with you to each doctor visit. Discuss
them with your doctor. Also discuss over-the-counter drugs and herbs.
- See your doctor at least twice a year. More frequent visits will be needed if you
have problems. You will also need regular checkups with the dentist. A yearly
checkup with a podiatrist (foot doctor) is smart.
- Have a checkup with your eye doctor every 2 years if you are at low risk for
retinopathy
(diabetic eye disease). If your at an increased risk for diabeteic
eye disease, have your eyes examined every year. Only a dilated eye exam can
reveal the changes associated with it. Treating retinopathy as early as possible
protects your eyesight.
- Check your feet daily for any wounds, red spots, or other changes. If you
cannot examine your feet, have someone else do it or use a mirror. Diabetic nerve
damage may prevent you from feeling pain. If a foot wound is not treated, you may
get an infection and risk amputation. At each doctor visit take off your shoes and
socks so your feet can be examined (even if no one requests you to do so).
- Don't smoke. Smoking cuts off oxygen to the tissues and slows healing. It also
increases the risks for heart attack, stroke, and lung disease.
- Check your blood glucose often. Blood glucose monitoring shows you how food,
medicine, exercise, and stress affect your blood sugar level. Keep good written
records and look for patterns. Your health care team can help you find ways to
minimize readings outside your target range.
- Exercise with your doctor's permission. If you have not been exercising, get a
physical before you start doing so. A physical exam will find any problems that may
prevent you from exercising safely. Regular exercise is great for weight and blood
glucose control. Risk for heart disease and stroke will decrease if you exercise.
- Learn how to handle sick days. Fill a sick-day box with supplies you will need.
Know when to call for help and what information your health care team will need.
Plan to have someone help you at home if you need it. Learn what you should and
should not eat.
- Learn how to manage stress. Deep breathing, exercise, talking to a friend,
massage, and reading a good book are good stress reducers.
Questions to Answer:
- What can I do this week to reduce my risk for diabetic complications?
- What other information do I need from my medical team to protect myself?
From the National Diabetes Education Program
Undated webpage
http://www.diabetesatwork.org/plans/factsheets/II_B_03_FS.PDF (PDF file) [PDF help]
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