Diabetes

Help! I Have Diabetes!

Diabetes? But I don’t feel sick!

Diabetes can be a surprising diagnosis for a lot of people, because the initial symptoms are slow-growing and subtle. Increased thirst or urination over the past few weeks, decreased energy, feeling hungrier than normal – these are all small clues that make doctors suspicious of diabetes. Whether this has been in your family for generations or you’ve never met anyone with diabetes, this can be a bit of a shock.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a lack of proper insulin response in the body. Type I diabetes is insufficient insulin production by your sugar-control organ, the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is an increase in your body’s resistance to insulin.

So I have Diabetes. What does that mean? Why is that bad?

It means that your blood sugar, without any medicine, is too high to be healthy. Sugar in your bloodstream affects the small blood vessels in your kidneys, leading to kidney failure. It can affect the vessels in your eyes, causing blindness. It can also affect the blood vessels & nerves in your arms and legs, making them slower to heal from small cuts and ulcers. The worst case scenario with that is amputation, frequently of a toe or entire foot.

That sounds serious! What should I do?

• See your doctor as recommended. We can measure the amount of blood sugar bound to blood cells using a test called a “Hemoglobin A-1-c.” While a fingerstick can tell you what your blood sugar is in this current moment, your A1c is a snapshot of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. Normal values are 4.0-5.6, and just like golf you want yours to be as low as possible.

• Check your feet every day. Take off your shoes and socks and spent 30 seconds looking at the top of your feet, separating the toes, and looking at the sides and soles of your feet. Look for any cuts, ulcers, or nail infections that aren’t going away. Wear comfortable socks and shoes that aren’t too tight.

• Get your eyes checked every year. Any optometrist or ophthalmologist will be able to dilate your eyes and use special lenses to look for diabetic changes. Tell them that you are getting a “diabetic eye check” and they will be able to help. Schedule this around your birthday, annual checkup, or any other significant date so you remember to do it every year.

• Get caught up with all vaccines, and get a flu shot every year. Unfortunately because of your diabetes, you’re at a higher risk for infection. Combat that as best you can by staying ahead of the game and getting vaccinated!

What Should I Change about my Lifestyle?

• The important things are to eat healthy foods and to stay active. You have diabetes now and while that’s scary, if you can make your lifestyle healthier you don’t have to stay on medicine for life! The most important part of this is your diet. Stay away from sugary drinks – one soft drink contains as much as 39 grams of sugar, which is the same as almost 10 teaspoons. Eat three healthy meals a day, and avoid “snack foods” such as chips or cookies. Stick to healthy snacks such as carrots, apples, or cheese slices!

• Exercise! It can be a daunting word if you’re not used to it, but it needs to be a vital part of your life now. This doesn’t mean that you have to run a marathon next month or enter into a bodybuilding competition; simply walking 30 minutes a day around the block can make a big difference. Walk with your family, with your friends, or with a pet to keep it interesting. Challenge yourself to walk a little bit further every single day, and use that time to unwind from stress.

What About Insulin?