Who is part of your healthcare team?

·        Your doctor

·         Dietician

·         Pharmacist

·         Diabetes educator

·         Any other healthcare provider helping you to manage your diabetes

·         Family and friends are the most important members of your diabetes team

                  .    

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin that it produces.

Symptoms of Type I and Type II diabetes

·         Weight loss

·         Vision changes

·         Fatigue

·         Excessive urination

·         Extreme thirst

·         Constant hunger

Symptoms of diabetes ketoacidosis

• Thirst or dry mouth

• frequent urination
• high blood glucose levels
• elevated ketone levels in the urine

Later signs

• fatigue or confusion
• dry or flushed skin
• nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• difficulty breathing
• Fruity Odor on breath

How is diabetes diagnosed? 

• Diabetes should be diagnosed by a physician.
• You are determined to have diabetes if there are classic symptoms of diabetes and your glucose level are elevated or if your glucose level is very high.
• Often, a physician will test your glucose level the next day to verify the diagnoses.
• Your physician may order tests such as an A1C, fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or a Random Plasma Glucose Test to confirm diagnoses.

Results

• A1C Normal less than 5.7% Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4%  Diabetes 6.5% or higher
• Result Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Normal less than 100 mg/dl Prediabetes 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl Diabetes 126 mg/dl or higher

·         Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) Normal  less than 140 mg/dl Prediabetes  140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl Diabetes  200 mg/dl or higher

Prevention of diabetes

1)      Choose what, how much and when to eat.

• Eat a variety of foods including vegetables, whole grains, fruits, non-fat dairy foods, healthy fats and lean meats.
• Eat small portions.
• Space meals evenly throughout the day.
• Don’t eat too much of one type of food.
• Don’t skip meals.

2)      Get physically active and lose weight.

• Try aerobic activity (walk, bike, swim) for 30 minutes a day.
• Be physically active throughout the day.
• Do flexibility exercises (stretching and yoga).
• Control your weight.

Calculation for BMI

                                 Body Mass Index (BMI)

                                  weight in pounds x 703

                                     Height in inches x 2

                           Underweight = less than 18.5

                           Normal Weight= 18.5 - 24.9

                           Overweight + 25.0 - 29.9

                           Obese weight = 30.0 and above

3)      Take prescribed medication.

4)      Monitor your blood glucose if prescribed.

5)      Go to your doctor appointments.

6)      A person with diabetes should have their A1C checked every three to six months depending on how controlled their levels are.