About Preventing Diabetes Problems

This site contains information from government publications about keeping your diabetes under control that have been reformatted and reorganized. There are numerous links to the original documents.

Click here for the pdf version of "Preventing Diabetes Problems."

Controle la diabetes

la versión de pdf

The goal is to make the information easier to find and to allow the sharing of information between users.

This is a very big undertaking and you can help me help others. Please add your comments or questions to any topic that concerns you. If you know of additional resources please include links to them.

I am especially looking for:

• Experiences of people with diabetes who have tips for keeping your diabetes under control
• Experiences of family members of people with diabetes who have tips for keeping your diabetes under control
• Experiences of caregivers experienced with keeping your diabetes under control
• Experiences of physicians experienced with keeping your diabetes under control
• Experiences of researchers experienced with keeping your diabetes under control

• Information about specific products for keeping your diabetes under control
• Information about specific keeping your diabetes under control
• Information about specific medications for keeping your diabetes under control
• Information about hospitals specializing in keeping your diabetes under control
• Information about clinics specializing in keeping your diabetes under control
• Information about physicians specializing in keeping your diabetes under control

If possible please include:

• Links to Preventing Diabetes Problems websites
• Links to Preventing Diabetes Problems blogs
• Links to Preventing Diabetes Problems news articles
• Links to Preventing Diabetes Problems research articles

Diabetes Prevention Series:

• Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
• Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Nervous System Healthy
• Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
• Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy
• Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy
• Diabetes and Eye Health
• Keep Your Diabetes Under Control

What are diabetes problems?

Too much glucose (sugar) in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose (also called blood sugar) can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

Will I have diabetes problems?

Maybe. You may have one or more diabetes problems or none at all. It is hard to know if or when your diabetes will cause problems. If you get diabetes when you are young, you may not have diabetes problems for many years. If you find out you have diabetes as an adult, you may already have diabetes problems. Either way, keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control can prevent diabetes problems.

Be active to prevent diabetes problems.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

What should my blood glucose numbers be?

Keeping your blood glucose on target will prevent or delay diabetes problems. For most people, target blood glucose levels are

Before meals	90 to 130
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal	Less than 180

Talk with your health care provider about what your blood glucose numbers should be. Print out this chart and record them.

Before meals	______ to ______
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal	Less than______

You and your health care provider will agree on when you need to check your blood glucose using a blood glucose meter. You will do the checks yourself. Your health care provider can teach you how to use your meter.

Keep track of your blood glucose checks using the record page. Make copies yourself or ask your health care provider for a blood glucose record book. Your blood glucose check results will help you and your health care provider make a plan for keeping your blood glucose under control. Always bring your record book to your health care appointments so you can talk about reaching your glucose goals.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

How can I find out what my average blood glucose is?

Ask your health care provider to do an A1C test. This blood test shows the average amount of glucose in your blood during the past 2 to 3 months. Have this test done at least twice a year. If your A1C result is not as good as it should be, your health care provider will do this test more often to see if it is improving as your treatment changes. Your A1C result plus your blood glucose meter results can show whether your blood glucose is under control.

Aim for a result below 7 percent. If your A1C test result is below 7 percent, then your blood glucose is in a desirable range and your diabetes treatment plan is working. The lower your A1C is, the lower your chance of getting eye, nerve, and kidney damage.

If your test result is more than 8 percent, you need a change in your diabetes plan. Your health care team can help you decide what part of your plan to change. You may need to change your meal plan, your diabetes medicines, or your exercise plan.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

What should my cholesterol be?

Normal cholesterol levels will help prevent heart disease and stroke, the biggest health problems for people with diabetes. Keeping cholesterol levels under control can also help with blood flow. Have your cholesterol level checked at least once a year. Meal planning, exercise, and medicines can help you reach your cholesterol targets:

Total cholesterol	under 200
LDL cholesterol	under 100
HDL cholesterol	above 40 (men) above 50 (women)
Triglycerides	under 150

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

What should my blood pressure be?

Normal blood pressure will help prevent damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Blood pressure is written with two numbers separated by a slash. For example: 120/70. The first number should be below 130 and the second number should be below 80. Keep your blood pressure as close to these numbers as you can. If you already have kidney disease, you may want even lower blood pressure to protect your kidneys.

Meal planning, medicines, and exercise can help you reach your blood pressure target.

Have your blood pressure checked at every visit.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

What does smoking have to do with diabetes problems?

Smoking and diabetes are a dangerous combination. Smoking raises your risk for diabetes problems. If you quit smoking, you'll lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, nerve disease, and kidney disease. Your cholesterol and your blood pressure levels may improve. Your blood circulation will also improve.

If you smoke, ask your health care provider for help in quitting.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

What else can I do to prevent diabetes problems?

There are other things that you can do either each day or one or more times a year to prevent diabetes problems. For example, to keep your feet healthy, check them each day. Ask your health care team whether you should take an aspirin every day to lower your risk for heart disease. To keep your eyes healthy, visit an eye doctor once a year for a complete eye examination that includes using drops in your eyes to dilate the pupils.

Once a year, your urine should be tested for protein. Also once a year, your health care provider should do a complete foot exam. See Things to Do Every Day for Good Diabetes Care for what you can do each day to stay healthy with diabetes. See Things for Your Health Care Provider to Look at Every Time You Have a Checkup for other things to check for good diabetes care.

Check your feet each day to keep them healthy.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

Things to Check for Good Diabetes Care

Taking care of diabetes is a team effort between you and your health care team (doctor, diabetes nurse educator, diabetes dietitian educator, pharmacist, and others). You are the most important member of the team.

Take charge of your diabetes by learning what to do for good diabetes care:

• Things to do every day for good diabetes care



• Things for your health care provider to look at every time you have a checkup



• Things for you or your health care provider to do at least once or twice a year

Keep a daily record of blood glucose check results. (Make copies of the Daily Diabetes Record page.) This information will help you see whether you are reaching your blood glucose goals.

You can prevent or slow down diabetes problems by reaching your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol goals most of the time.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

Things to Do Every Day for Good Diabetes Care

	Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor or dietitian have worked out.
	Be active a total of 30 minutes most days. Ask your doctor what activities are best for you.
	Take your diabetes medicines at the same times each day.
	Check your blood glucose every day. Each time you check your blood glucose, write the number in your record book.
	Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or sore toenails.
	Brush and floss your teeth and gums every day.
	Don't smoke.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

Things for Your Health Care Provider to Look at Every Time You Have a Checkup to Control Diabetes

Your blood glucose records	Show your records to your health care provider. Tell your health care provider if you often have hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) or high blood glucose.
Your weight	Talk with your health care provider about how much you should weigh. Talk about ways to reach your goal that will work for you.
Your blood pressure	The goal for most people with diabetes is less than 130/80. Ask your health care provider about ways to reach your goal.
Your diabetes medicines plan	Talk to your health care provider about any problems you have had with your diabetes medicines.
Your feet	Ask your health care provider to check your feet for sores.
Your plan for exercise	Talk with your health care provider about what you do to stay active.
Your meal plan	Talk about what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat.
Your feelings	Ask your health care provider about ways to handle stress. If you are feeling sad or unable to cope with problems, ask about how to get help.
Your smoking	If you smoke, talk with your health care provider about how you can quit.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

Things for You or Your Health Care Provider to Do at Least Once or Twice a Year to Control Diabetes

A1C test	Have this blood test at least twice a year (See "How can I find out what my average blood glucose is?") Your result will tell you what your average blood glucose level was for the past 2 to 3 months.
Blood lipid (fats) lab tests	Get a blood test to check your total cholesterol—aim for under 200 LDL—aim for under 100 HDL—men: aim for above 40; women: aim for above 50 triglycerides—aim for under 150 These test results will help you plan how to prevent heart attack and stroke.
Kidney function tests	Ask for tests to check your urine for protein. The results will tell you how well your kidneys are working.
Dilated eye exam	See your eye doctor once a year for a complete eye exam.
Dental exam	See your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.
Flu shot	Get a flu shot each year.
Foot exam	Ask your health care provider to check your feet to make sure your foot nerves and your blood circulation are OK.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

How to Use the Daily Diabetes Record Page

Use copies of the record page to keep track of blood glucose checks, medicines, and notes about things that affect your blood glucose. Make one copy of the record page for each week. This record will help you see whether your diabetes plan is working. Review your record with your health care providers.

Blood Glucose Checks

Talk with your health care provider and decide on the best times to check blood glucose. You may be checking blood glucose before meals, after meals, or at bedtime. Write down your results.

If needed, draw a line in the boxes under "Breakfast," "Lunch," and "Dinner" to make room for blood glucose check results before and after a meal, like this example:

See "What should my blood glucose numbers be?" for information about target blood glucose levels.

Medicines

Under the heading marked "Medicine," write the name of your diabetes medicines and the amounts taken.

Notes

Write down things that affect your blood glucose level. Some examples are

• eating more or less than usual
  
  
• forgetting to take your diabetes medicine
  
  
• exercising (write down what kind and for how long)
  
  
• being sick or upset about something (being under stress)
  
  
• going to a social event or other special event, or being on vacation

Daily Diabetes Record Page

View and print a daily diabetes record page.

My Health Care Provider Team Members

Print out this chart and record names, addresses, and phone numbers.

	Name and Address	Phone Number
Doctor
Diabetes Dietitian Educator
Diabetes Nurse Educator
Eye Doctor
Dentist
Foot Doctor
Pharmacist
Counselor

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm

For More Information About Keeping Your Diabetes Under Control

Diabetes Teachers (nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health professionals)

To find a diabetes teacher near you, call the American Association of Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1–800–TEAMUP4 (1–800–832–6874), or look on the Internet at www.diabeteseducator.org and click on "Find a Diabetes Educator."

Dietitians

To find a dietitian near you, call the American Dietetic Association toll-free at 1–800–366–1655, or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org and click on "Find a Nutrition Professional."

To get more information about taking care of diabetes, contact

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3600
Phone: 1–800–438–5383
Fax: 703–738–4929
Internet: http://ndep.nih.gov

American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1–800–342–2383
Internet: www.diabetes.org

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005–4001
Phone: 1–800–533–2873
Internet: www.jdrf.org

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm