Diabetes

What Is Diabetes?

Most of the food we eat is turned into sugars for our body to use for energy. Our bodies produce a hormone called insulin to help sugars get into the cells of our body. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin, or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in your blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health problems including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and leg amputations. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 16 million people in the U.S. have diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

People who have diabetes can have some or none of these symptoms:

  • Having to urinate often.
  • Being very thirsty.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Very hungry.
  • Blurry or changed vision.
  • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet.
  • Very dry skin.
  • Sores that don't heal.
  • Unusual tiredness.

Are there different kinds of diabetes?

Yes, there are three types of diabetes:

  • Type 1 usually develops in children and young adults when the pancreas only makes a tiny amount of insulin or stops making it.
  • Type 2 can happen at any age, but mostly in adults over 40. This is when the pancreas is just not making enough insulin.
  • The third type of diabetes is called "gestational diabetes," which happens to a woman when she is pregnant, but then goes away after the baby is born. Women who have had gestational diabetes are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes after the age of 40.

What do I do if I think I have diabetes?

If you think you might have diabetes, visit your doctor. If you know of other people in your family who have had diabetes, talk to your doctor about this. You should watch for signs of diabetes, as it can run in families.

The risk of developing diabetes is higher for:

  • People over 40 who are overweight.
  • People of African-American, Hispanic, or Asian heritage.
  • Pregnant women

How is diabetes treated?

Everyone who has diabetes needs to do three things. Your doctor can help you with all of these:

  • Plan meals to help the body deal with sugars.
  • Exercise to help the body use insulin better and convert sugar to energy.
  • See your health care provider every six months. Work with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Some people will need to take medicines, either pills or insulin shots. This depends on the type of diabetes and how well the disease responds to meal planning and exercise. Some people have to monitor their blood sugars at home. Your doctor will explain all this and watch this closely with you.

Can diabetes be prevented? Is there a cure?

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed. Scientists are working to understand the causes of diabetes, which is the first step to finding a cure. The best thing you can do now is to watch for signs of diabetes. If you or your loved ones have diabetes, support healthy habits and choices for controlling the disease.

For more information

Your doctor may refer you to various specialists (such as nutritionists, diabetic educators, endocrinologists). Community Health Plan provides benefits for medications needed to manage this health condition. Call Community Health Plan for more information at 1-800-440-1561.

Sources

Diabetes Management: Control Your Blood Sugar

Set a blood sugar goal.

Ask your doctor to set your blood sugar goal:

  • 80 to 140 is common before meals.
  • 180 is common after meals.

Check it often. Write it down.

  • Keep a log.
  • Take it with you when you visit the doctor.

Signs of low blood sugar:

  • Cranky, tired, or confused.
  • Shaky or sweaty.
  • Faint, light headed, or headaches.
  • You pass out or have a seizure (call 911).

What to do:

  • Eat a piece of hard candy right away.
  • Drink fruit juice or regular soda right away.
  • Drink a cup of skim milk.

Signs of high blood sugar:

  • Very thirsty
  • Pee a lot
  • Blurred vision
  • Weight loss

Call your doctor if you have these signs and symptoms.

Diabetes Management: You Need to Stay Healthy

Get vaccinations

  • Get a flu shot every year.
  • Get the pneumococcal vaccine every 5 years.

Keep blood sugar controlled

  • Keep blood sugar in target range (80 mg to 140 mg/dl).
  • Drink plenty of water each day.
  • Take all your medicines the way your doctor as told you to take them.
  • Treat any illness early, have a sick day plan.
  • Always wear or carry medical emergency ID.
  • Know how to treat very low blood sugar.
  • Have fast-acting sugar with you at all times.

Keep your blood pressure within range

  • Below 130/80 is good.
  • If your doctor gave you medicine for high blood pressure, take it.

Have a sick day plan:

  • Your doctor's phone number ____________________.
  • Blood sugar numbers:
  • Call when it is above ______.
  • Call when it is below ______.
  • High blood sugar and insulin plan:
  • Use ______ more units of __________________ when blood sugar is _______.