These
four steps help people with diabetes understand, monitor, and manage their
diabetes to help them stay healthy. This publication is excellent for people
newly diagnosed with diabetes or who just want to learn more about controlling
the disease.
Step 1: Learn about diabetes.
What is diabetes?
There
are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes – Your body does not make insulin. This is a problem
because you need insulin to take the sugar (glucose) from the foods you eat and
turn it into energy for your body. You need to take insulin every day to live.
- Type 2 diabetes – Your body does not make or use insulin well. You may
need to take pills or insulin to help control your diabetes. Type 2 is the most
common type of diabetes.
- Gestational (jest-TAY-shun-al) diabetes – Some women get this kind
of diabetes when they are pregnant. Most of the time, it goes away after the
baby is born. But even if it goes away, these women and their children have a
greater chance of getting diabetes later in life.
You are the most important member of your health care
team.
You
are the one who manages your diabetes day by day. Talk to your doctor about how
you can best care for your diabetes to stay healthy. Some others who can help
are:
- dentist
- diabetes doctor
- diabetes educator
- dietitian
- eye doctor
- foot doctor
- friends and family
- mental health counselor
- nurse
- nurse practitioner
- pharmacist
- social worker
How to learn more about diabetes.
- Take classes to learn more about living with diabetes. To find a
class, check with your health care team, hospital, or area health clinic. You
can also search online.
- Join a support group — in-person or online — to get peer support
with managing your diabetes.
- Read about diabetes online. Go to www.YourDiabetesInfo.org.
Take diabetes seriously.
You
may have heard people say they have “a touch of diabetes” or that their “sugar
is a little high.” These words suggest that diabetes is not a serious disease.
That is not correct. Diabetes is serious, but you can learn to
manage it.
People
with diabetes need to make healthy food choices, stay at a healthy weight, move
more every day, and take their medicine even when they feel good. It’s a lot to
do. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it!
Why take care of your diabetes?
Taking
care of yourself and your diabetes can help you feel good today and in the
future. When your blood sugar (glucose) is close to normal, you are likely to:
- have more energy
- be less tired and thirsty
- need to pass urine less often
- heal better
- have fewer skin or bladder infections
You
will also have less chance of having health problems caused by diabetes such
as:
- heart attack or stroke
- eye problems that can lead to trouble seeing or going blind
- pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet, also called
nerve damage
- kidney problems that can cause your kidneys to stop working
- teeth and gum problems
Actions you can take
- Ask your health care team what type of
diabetes you have.
- Learn where you can go for support.
- Learn how caring for your diabetes
helps you feel good today and in the future.
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