Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible will help you prevent or delay diabetes-related complications. Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder, including managing your blood sugar levels and dealing with daily diabetes care.
Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and relaxation exercises can help. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about these and other ways you can manage stress. Whether you were just diagnosed with diabetes or have had it for some time, meeting with a diabetes educator is a great way to get support and guidance, including how to:.
Childhood obesity rates are rising, and so are the rates of type 2 diabetes in youth. Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family:. Healthy changes become habits more easily when everyone makes them together.
Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes? What health problems can people with diabetes develop? Diabetes affects just about everyone, from the over million Americans with or at risk for the disease to the many more people who care for them. What are the different types of diabetes? The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes If you have type 1 diabetes , your body does not make insulin.
Type 2 diabetes If you have type 2 diabetes , your body does not make or use insulin well. Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Other types of diabetes Less common types include monogenic diabetes , which is an inherited form of diabetes, and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as heart disease stroke kidney disease eye problems dental disease nerve damage foot problems You can take steps to lower your chances of developing these diabetes-related health problems.
Some elevation of blood glucose levels after eating is normal, but even after a meal the levels should not be very high. Doctors can also measure the level of a protein, hemoglobin A1C also called glycosylated or glycolated hemoglobin , in the blood.
Hemoglobin is the red, oxygen-carrying substance in red blood cells. When blood is exposed to high blood glucose levels over a period of time, glucose attaches to the hemoglobin and forms glycosylated hemoglobin. The hemoglobin A1C level reported as the percentage of hemoglobin that is A1C reflects long-term trends in blood glucose levels rather than rapid changes.
Measurements of hemoglobin A1C can be used to diagnose diabetes when testing is done by a certified laboratory not by instruments used at home or in a doctor's office.
People with a hemoglobin A1C level of 6. If the level is between 5. Another kind of blood test, an oral glucose tolerance test, may be done in certain situations, such as screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes For women who have diabetes before they become pregnant, the risks of complications during pregnancy depend on how long diabetes has been present and whether complications of diabetes, such However, it is not routinely used for testing for diabetes because the test can be very cumbersome.
In this test, people fast, have a blood sample taken to determine the fasting blood glucose level, and then drink a special solution containing a large, standard amount of glucose. More blood samples are then taken over the next 2 to 3 hours and are tested to determine whether the glucose in the blood rises to abnormally high levels. Blood glucose levels are often checked during a routine physical examination.
Checking the levels of glucose in the blood regularly is particularly important in older people because diabetes is so common in later life. People may have diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, and not know it. Doctors do not do routine tests to screen for type 1 diabetes even in people at high risk of type 1 diabetes such as siblings or children of people who have type 1 diabetes. However, it is important to do screening tests in people at risk of type 2 diabetes, including those who.
Have prediabetes Prediabetes Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar glucose levels to be abnormally high. Have high blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure hypertension is persistently high pressure in the arteries.
Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as a result of an underlying Lifestyle, genetics, disorders such as low thyroid hormone Have had diabetes during pregnancy or had a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds 4, grams at birth. Have polycystic ovary disease Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by slight obesity, irregular or no menstrual periods, and symptoms caused by high levels of male hormones androgens.
It involves disruption of the People with these risk factors should be screened for diabetes at least once every three years. Diabetes risk can be estimated using online risk calculators. Doctors may measure fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C level, or do an oral glucose tolerance test. If the test results are on the border between normal and abnormal, doctors do the screening tests more often, at least once a year.
Diet, exercise, and education are the cornerstones of treatment of diabetes and often the first recommendations for people with mild diabetes. Weight loss is important for people who are overweight.
People who continue to have elevated blood glucose levels despite lifestyle changes, or have very high blood glucose levels and people with type 1 diabetes no matter their blood glucose levels also require drugs.
Because complications are less likely to develop if people with diabetes strictly control their blood glucose levels, the goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Treatment of high blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure hypertension is persistently high pressure in the arteries. A low dose of aspirin taken daily is recommended in people with risk factors for heart disease Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition in which patchy deposits of fatty material atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or All people with diabetes who are between 40 and 75 years are given a statin Lipid-lowering drugs Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids cholesterol, triglycerides, or both or a low high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol level.
People younger than 40 or older than 75 years and with an elevated risk of heart disease also should take a statin. It is helpful for people with diabetes to carry or wear medical identification such as a bracelet or tag to alert health care practitioners to the presence of diabetes.
This information allows health care practitioners to start life-saving treatment quickly, especially in the case of injury or change in mental status. Diabetic ketoacidosis Diabetic Ketoacidosis Diabetic ketoacidosis is an acute complication of diabetes that occurs mostly in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Treatment is similar for both and centers around giving intravenous fluids and insulin. Because aggressive treatment to reach these goals increases the risk that blood glucose might go too low hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is abnormally low levels of sugar glucose in the blood.
Some other goals are keeping systolic blood pressure less than mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg. People with diabetes benefit greatly from learning about the disorder, understanding how diet and exercise affect their blood glucose levels, and knowing how to avoid complications. A nurse trained in diabetes education can provide information about managing diet, exercising, monitoring blood glucose levels, and taking drugs.
People with diabetes should stop smoking Smoking Cessation While often very challenging, quitting smoking is one of the most important things smokers can do for their health. Quitting smoking brings immediate health benefits that increase over time Diet management is very important in people with both types of diabetes mellitus. Doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and efforts to maintain a healthy weight. People with diabetes can benefit from meeting with a dietitian or a diabetes educator to develop an optimal eating plan.
Such a plan includes avoiding simple sugars and processed foods, increasing dietary fiber, limiting portions of carbohydrate-rich, and fatty foods especially saturated fats. People who are taking insulin should avoid long periods between meals to prevent hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is abnormally low levels of sugar glucose in the blood.
Although protein and fat in the diet contribute to the number of calories a person eats, only the number of carbohydrates has a direct effect on blood glucose levels. The American Diabetes Association has many helpful tips on diet , including recipes. Even when people follow a proper diet, cholesterol-lowering drugs Lipid-lowering drugs Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids cholesterol, triglycerides, or both or a low high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol level.
People with type 1 diabetes and certain people with type 2 diabetes may use carbohydrate counting or the carbohydrate exchange system to match their insulin dose to the carbohydrate content of their meal. However, the carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio the amount of insulin taken for each gram of carbohydrate in the meal varies for each person, and people with diabetes need to work closely with a dietician who has experience in working with people with diabetes to master the technique.
Some experts have advised use of the glycemic index a measure of the impact of an ingested carbohydrate-containing food on the blood glucose level to delineate between rapid and slowly metabolized carbohydrates, although there is little evidence to support this approach. Exercise, in appropriate amounts at least minutes a week spread out over three days , can also help people control their weight and improve blood glucose levels.
Because blood glucose levels go down during exercise, people must be alert for symptoms of hypoglycemia. Some people need to eat a small snack during prolonged exercise, decrease their insulin dose, or both. Many people, especially those with type 2 diabetes, are overweight or obese.
Some people with type 2 diabetes may be able to avoid or delay the need to take drugs by achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Weight loss is also important in these people because excess weight contributes to complications of diabetes. When people with diabetes have trouble losing weight with diet and exercise alone, doctors may give weight-loss drugs or recommend bariatric surgery Bariatric Surgery Bariatric weight-loss surgery alters the stomach, intestine, or both to produce weight loss.
In the United States, about , people have bariatric surgery each year. This number accounts Proper care of feet and regular eye examinations can help prevent or delay the onset of complications of diabetes. People with diabetes are vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae , and doctors usually recommend they receive annual flu vaccination because people with diabetes are at risk of infection.
General treatment of type 2 diabetes Treatment Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar glucose levels to be abnormally high. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is often needed to prevent complications of diabetes Complications of Diabetes Mellitus People with diabetes mellitus have many serious long-term complications that affect many areas of the body, particularly the blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
There are many drugs used to treat diabetes Drug Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Many people with diabetes require drugs to lower blood glucose levels, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications of diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes mellitus Type 1, in which the People with type 1 diabetes require insulin injections to lower blood glucose levels. Most people with type 2 diabetes require drugs by mouth to lower blood glucose levels but some also require insulin or other injectable drugs. Monitoring blood glucose levels is an essential part of diabetes care.
Routine blood glucose monitoring provides the information needed to make necessary adjustments in drugs, diet, and exercise regimens. It is potentially harmful to wait until there are symptoms of low or high blood glucose levels to check blood glucose.
Kidney damage can be diagnosed early by checking for microalbumin very small amounts of protein in the urine at least once a year. Your doctor will also check your kidney function, including estimated glomerular filtration rate e-GFR , with a blood test. If problems are picked up early, nephropathy can be slowed or prevented with the right treatment.
Medicine called ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists help to protect the kidneys from further damage. These tablets can also be used to treat high blood pressure.
Nerve damage neuropathy is usually caused by high blood glucose levels, although similar nerve damage can also result from:. Damage can occur to the sensory feeling and motor movement nerves of the legs and feet, arms, hands, chest and stomach, and to the nerves that control the actions of body organs.
To help prevent nerve damage:. The feet of someone with diabetes are at risk of damage when the blood supply in both large and small blood vessels is reduced.
Nerve damage peripheral neuropathy often results and problems to the structure of the foot can also occur — for example, clawed toes. Reduced blood supply and nerve function can delay healing, increase the risk of infection, reduce feeling in the feet, and lead to ulcers and structural foot problems.
Look after your feet by:. People with diabetes may experience very dry skin due to damage to the small blood vessels and nerves. A common problem for people with diabetes is very dry skin on the feet. There are also other skin conditions related to diabetes. High blood glucose levels over time can affect the health of the skin.
The skin acts as a barrier to protect our bodies from infection so it is important to keep the skin as healthy as possible. If the skin becomes dry, it can lead to cracks and possibly infections. To reduce the risk of skin problems:. People with poorly managed diabetes are at increased risk of tooth decay and gum infections.
This is because the small blood vessels that help nourish your teeth and gums can become damaged. Dental and gum infections can also lead to high blood glucose levels. Poor oral care can cause the gums to become inflamed and loosen around your teeth. It's also strongly linked with an increased risk of heart disease.
To reduce your risk of teeth and gum problems:. Living with and managing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can lead to stress, anxiety and depression. This can affect your blood glucose levels and how you manage your diabetes in general. Over time, this can affect your health. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are going through times of stress, depression or anxiety. Your doctor can refer you to a counsellor or psychologist by providing a diabetes mental health plan. This is Medicare rebated.
Other help is available, including:. Your immune system helps to prevent and fight infection. High blood glucose levels slow down the white blood cells, which help fight infection. This makes it more difficult for the immune system to do its job. Support your immune system and reduce your risk of infection by:. People with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of thyroid disease. This includes both overactive and underactive thyroid. Thyroid disorders can affect general health and may affect blood glucose levels.
Thyroid function is assessed by a blood test. Talk to your doctor to see if you have had your thyroid function checked. Reduced blood supply and nerve damage can affect sexual function. Erectile dysfunction impotence in men is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. This is a common problem for men of all ages and is more common in men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem — physical, psychological or a mixture of both.
Most cases of erectile dysfunction are physical, such as nerve or blood vessel damage. In women, sexual dysfunction is also reported, although there is a lack of research in this area. It is difficult to know whether this is directly related to hormonal changes such as menopause, or to diabetes.
It is important to seek help from your doctor, diabetes educator or organisations such as Healthy Male — Andrology Australia.
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