Learning About Diabetes  

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Diabetes is a unique disease, unlike many chronic diseases, in that it can be self-managed. Understanding your diabetes requires knowing your body and how diabetes affects you specifically. This means that you become the central person on your care team -- by knowing yourself, you can guide your health care providers to give you the best care for your needs. Remember pharmacyDIRECT staff specialise in understanding our diabetic patients' needs.

There are, however, so many different ways to approach management of diabetes: many types of meal plans, new medications, etc. How can you sort through all this information to know what's right for you?
 

 
 

Ongoing diabetes education is the answer.

First
You need to make sure you have a diabetes specialist/educator (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, or other qualified healthcare professional) on your health care team.

Second
You should subscribe to a well-established diabetes publication. Your diabetes specialist/educator can help you select one (or check the internet for more information).

Third
Attend programs and support groups that keep you informed of new advances in diabetes management. Once you've learned new information, check with your diabetes specialist/educator to see if it's warranted for you.

A very famous endocrinologist was once asked by one of his patients with diabetes what were the three most important things he could do for his diabetes. The doctor's answer was: "Education... education.... and education!" 

A well-informed patient with diabetes is a healthy patient.

Understanding Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot use food properly. To understand diabetes, you need to know how your body uses food. The food that you eat turns into glucose (sugar) in the stomach and intestines. It enters the bloodstream where it is carried to your body's cells. Insulin, a natural hormone made in the pancreas, is needed to help the sugar enter your cells. After entering the cell, the sugar is used for energy.

If your body produces little or no insulin, or does not properly use the insulin it does make, you have diabetes.

Type I and Type II Diabetes

In Type I diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. All people with Type I diabetes must take insulin, either by insulin shots or from an insulin pump. 

In Type II diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin, but not enough, or the body does not properly use the insulin it does make. Type II diabetes can sometimes be managed with exercise and a meal plan. People with Type II diabetes may also need to take diabetes pills and/or insulin.

The chart below shows the characteristics of Type I and Type II diabetes. Your doctor will tell you which type of diabetes you have.

Type I Diabetes Type II Diabetes
  • Diagnosed under 35 years of age
  • Not overweight (slender)
  • Quick start of symptoms
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased appetite
  • Rapid weight loss
  • Tiredness or fatigue
  • Ketones in urine
  • 10% of all people with diabetes
  • Diagnosed over 40 years of age
  • Usually overweight
  • Slow start of symptoms or no symptoms at all
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow to heal cuts
  • Tingling/ numbness in hands/feet
  • Recurring skin, mouth, or bladder infections
  • Any of the symptoms listed under Type I symptoms
  • 90% of all people with diabetes

Your health care team will work with you to develop your diabetes treatment plan based upon your own needs.


Reducing Complications

If left unchecked, diabetes can affect almost every organ system in your body. Today, in the United States, diabetes is responsible for:

People with diabetes are also 3 times more likely to develop:

So, how can you delay or prevent these complications from happening to you?

Blood Glucose Control and Frequent Self Monitoring make a difference

How Can You Control Diabetes?

With diabetes, you need to keep your blood sugar level within your target range. To do this, you will work with your health care team to develop a treatment plan. Your treatment plan will include a meal plan, exercise, and possibly medication - either diabetes pills or insulin.

A balanced and healthy meal plan is especially important for people with diabetes. A balanced meal plan should include mostly carbohydrates and should be low in fat and sodium. It is important that you get needed nutrients and maintain a healthy weight.

Regular exercise is important for all people, but especially for those with diabetes. Exercise can help control body weight that may delay the start of Type II diabetes. Exercise usually lowers blood sugar levels.

Diabetes medications are necessary for many people who have diabetes. All people with Type I diabetes will take insulin. Some people with Type II diabetes can take care of their diabetes with exercise and a meal plan. Others with Type II diabetes will take diabetes pills, insulin, or both.

Monitoring:

Blood sugar testing (self-monitoring) gives you information to help you take care of your diabetes every day. Daily testing is the only way to know if your blood sugar level is in your target range.

To self-test, you will need a blood sugar monitor, a test strip, and a lancing device. A diabetes educator can show you how to do this simple test.

When you test your blood, keep records of your blood sugar levels. Keeping records of your blood sugars will help you and your health care team know how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.

Lab Tests. In addition to self-monitoring, you also need to know your average blood sugar over a longer period of time. A test, known as Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), gives you a 2-3 month average of your blood sugar so you know how your blood sugars have ranged over a longer period of time. It is a test that is done in a laboratory and will be done every 3-4 months when you visit your health care team.