Take Charge of Your Diabetes

What most people refer to as "diabetes"; is actually a group of diseases called diabetes mellitus. These diseases affect your body's ability to turn the sugar (or glucose) in your blood into energy.

Your body uses insulin to change glucose so it can be used by cells for energy. Based on what diabetes type you have, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't use it properly.

If it's not treated, any form of diabetes can lead to death or serious complications such as:

• Amputation.
• Blindness.
• Diabetic retinopathy.
• Heart and vascular disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Stroke.
• Wounds and infections.

Download this free Diabetes 101 booklet

The signs, symptoms and severity of diabetes depends on the type. It's also based on how high your blood sugar is. Some people don't have symptoms right away, but some common signs include:

• Blurred vision.
• Constant thirst.
• Extreme hunger.
• Fatigue.
• Frequent infections.
• Frequent urination.
• Irritability.
• Rapid weight loss.
• Slow-healing sores.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, often called "insulin-dependent diabetes," happens when your body stops making insulin. It's most common in children but can be diagnosed at any age. Symptoms include dry mouth, fatigue and a fruit flavor in your mouth.

While type 1 diabetes is a long-term condition that can't be reversed, you can control it by making healthy lifestyle changes and by using prescribed insulin effectively.

Types 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, often called "non-insulin dependent diabetes," happens when your blood sugar level is too high. It's most common in adults but can be diagnosed at any age. Though sometimes no symptoms are noticed, signs can include extreme hunger, blurry vision and frequent urination.

While type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that can't be reversed, you can manage it with healthy lifestyle changes, medicine and insulin therapy.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy when changes in your body cause high blood sugar. It's possible this short-term condition can be reversed. Since most women don't notice any symptoms, your obstetrician will monitor your glucose levels often as a part of your prenatal care.

You can manage gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, and it often goes away after your baby is born.

Prediabetes

As a regular part of your primary care, your doctor will test your blood sugar levels periodically (usually yearly). Since it's possible that prediabetes can be reversed, catching it early is key.

You'll be considered prediabetic if your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Your doctor will talk with you about important steps you can take to control or reverse your prediabetes.

With a little mindfulness, you can manage your diabetes and lead a healthy, active life. The first important step is to learn the signs that your blood sugar isn't within a normal range. Then you can make adjustments and get the support you need.

Next, we advise you to create a support network of dietitians, educators, programs, doctors and others who can help you navigate a healthy diabetic lifestyle. Seeing your support team often is crucial to achieving your best health. During your journey, you may be asked to think about:

• Creating a healthy diet plan with a dietitian's help.
• Discussing common treatments for diabetic complications, such as hyperbaric medicine for wound care.
• Taking prescribed medicines, including insulin injections.
• Trying nonmedical and medical weight loss treatments and programs.
• Wearing an emergency ID bracelet that lets people know you have diabetes.

Please see a doctor right away if you have symptoms that last more than a few hours or are more serious. These include cuts, wounds and blisters that aren't healing or are infected, or chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain or numbness in your arms and legs.

At ProMedica, we know that patients who understand diabetes enjoy a better quality of life than those who aren't clear about how to handle the disease. We want to empower you to get the knowledge you need. That's why we offer education about diabetes and how to take control of your health.

Our education services are recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). These services help you plan for your treatment and understand your medicines. They also show you how to monitor your blood glucose levels. You'll learn how to plan meals and exercise in a way that keeps your diabetes under control. After all, you should be able to enjoy your life without worrying about your health.

Call ProMedica Diabetes and Nutrition Education at 419-291-6767 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

High Blood Sugar

A good first step in managing your diabetes is learning to recognize the signs of high blood sugar, which include:

• Blurred vision.
• Drowsiness.
• Dry skin.
• Extreme thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Passing out.
• Low Blood Sugar

Low Blood Sugar

A good first step in managing your diabetes is learning to recognize the signs of low blood sugar, which include:

• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Hunger.
• Impaired vision.
• Irritability.
• Passing out.
• Shaking.
• Sweating.
• Weakness.

Diabetes can lead to wounds and infections, including potentially dangerous foot ulcers. ProMedica Wound Care is here to help you with hard-to-treat wounds. Learn more about ProMedica Wound Care.

Diabetes and Wound Care

Good nutrition is key to your good health. It's one of the most important ways to manage diabetes. The right diet — one rich in nutrients and good fats, but low in calories — will help you control your glucose levels.

At ProMedica, our dietitians will work with you to create a diabetes medical nutrition therapy (MNT) diet. It takes into account your health as well as your likes, dislikes and lifestyle. MNT plans are designed just for you and your condition. Focused on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, your MNT plan will be built around a variety of healthy foods. It includes balanced portions and regular meals all through the day, along with wholesome snacks.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

A meal plan that's chosen by you and your dietitian helps you maintain a healthy glucose level in your blood. When you eat too many calories and bad fats, your glucose rises in an unhealthy way. Staying on top of what you eat helps keep your glucose in check and avoids problems that come with having high blood sugar.

A medical nutrition therapy plan also works well as a safe way to lose weight. Many people with diabetes find that weight loss helps them manage their glucose. Losing weight also improves your health in many other noticeable ways.

Best Foods

Your ProMedica dietitian will help you select foods that are best for you to manage diabetes. Some of the delicious, nutritious choices for you are:

• Fiber. Among its many health benefits, fiber helps control blood sugar levels. You'll want to try these high-fiber foods: whole-grain pasta; garbanzo, black, and white beans; brown rice; apples; guava; strawberries; broccoli; peas; and brussels sprouts.
• Fish. ProMedica dietitians advise eating fish twice a week. Generally, fish is lower in overall fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Broil, bake, or poach. Avoid fried. Try tuna, salmon, mackerel and other fish high in Omega-3 fatty acid.
• Healthy carbs. Carbohydrates are broken into three types: fiber, starches and sugars. Carbs raise your blood glucose. But eating healthy carbs in line with your meal plan helps you keep your blood sugar within a healthy range. Try whole-grain breads, sweet potatoes, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal, kale and bananas.
• Healthy fats. As long as you don't eat too many of them, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower cholesterol, though they tend to be higher in calories. Try avocados, walnuts, salmon, pumpkin and sesame seeds, olives and olive oil, and navy beans.

Foods to Avoid

When working toward your health goals you should avoid foods that contain:

• High sugar. Can be found in candy, desserts and sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and sweet tea.
• High salt. Can be found in chips, cured meats, sauces and dressings, and packaged food.
• High cholesterol. Can be found in butter, bacon, ice cream, lobster and fried foods.
• Trans fats. Can be found in deep-fried foods, non-dairy creamer, cake mixes and margarine.
• Saturated fats. Can be found in cheese, butter, fatty beef, chicken with skin and whole milk.

Insulin is the hormone that allows sugar (also called glucose) to enter your cells and be used as energy.

Glucose is the fuel our bodies need for energy. If it's going to be used by our bodies, it needs to get into our cells. When someone has diabetes, the glucose stays in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells. This starves our cells of energy.

Blood sugar tests give you vital information about how to manage your condition. Knowing your glucose level helps you:

• Reach your treatment goals.
• Understand how your daily choices in diet, exercise or stress levels affect your condition.
• Understand how your medicine works for you.

Your blood glucose can be measured by placing a blood drop on a strip that a glucose monitor can read. Your doctor will work closely with you to decide how often you should be testing your blood sugar. It's common to test it several times each day.

Most of the time people don't know if their blood sugar is under control since it's constantly changing throughout the day. That's why it's a good idea to check your blood sugar levels at various times of the day to be sure your blood sugar is under control.

The A1C test is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar level over the past three months.

Carbohydrates are our major energy source and have the greatest effect on blood sugar. High-fiber carbohydrate foods like whole-grain bread, whole fruits, legumes, nuts and oats digest slower. That helps keep blood sugar from getting too high.

Exercise helps insulin work more efficiently and can help keep blood sugar in a normal range. Talk with your doctor about which exercise program is right for you.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, insulin must be taken every day because your body doesn’t make its own. A wide range of oral and injectable medicines can also be used to help control your Type 2 diabetes.

Any time you notice a break in your skin that heals slowly, talk to your doctor. Wound care and diabetic vascular disease specialists provide treatment and also teach you how to care for your wounds at home.