Diabetes & Me

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Diabetes & Me

What is diabetes anyway?Diabetes is a disease characterized by too much sugar in the blood. Normally the hormone, insulin, carries the glucose to all the body’s cells to create energy. In Type 2 Diabetes, the insulin is either not functioning properly or at all. The high levels of sugar left in the blood can starve your body’s cells from energy. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. Diabetes can also lead to a premature

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I have diabetes.So what does this really mean?

Diabetes is a disease in which glucose (or

sugar) is not properly broken down by the

body. There are two main types of

diabetes. They are called Type 1 Diabetes

and Type 2 Diabetes. More than 90% of

people with the disease have Type 2

Diabetes. This booklet will focus on Type

2 Diabetes and what you can do to live a

long, healthy life.

In Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas produces

insulin but the body’s cells do not use the

insulin properly. This is called insulin

resistance. Type 2 Diabetes can be

controlled with proper diet and exercise,

sometimes combined with medications or

insulin injections.

Normal blood sugar ranges between 70-

130 mg/dL before meals. Blood sugar

that is too low is called hypoglycemia.

Blood sugar that is too high is called

hyperglycemia. Both can be very

dangerous. Monitoring your blood sugar

with a home blood glucose (sugar)

monitor is important if you have diabetes

so you can avoid dangerous, and even life-

threatening high or low blood sugar levels.

Low blood sugar (less than 70 mg/dL) can

cause sweating, nervousness, shakiness,

weakness and hunger. When this occurs,

you must act quickly to raise your blood

sugar. Try drinking a cup of fruit juice or a

regular soda. When you are starting to

feel better, follow up with a bowl of cereal

or some crackers and milk.

High blood sugar (greater than 130 mg/dL)

can cause increased thirst and urination,

nausea, vomiting and confusion. If you

have these symptoms, check your blood

sugar. Get emergency care if you have

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I feel fine now.

How can diabetes affect my life

Not all people experience the symptoms of diabetes. In fact, lots of people who have diabetes don’t even know it because they do not feel any different. It is important to know that even if you feel fine, you still must manage diabetes through diet, exercise and medications, if prescribed. It is also necessary to check your blood sugar regularly. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications.

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Infection

People with diabetes are at higher risk of getting infections. High blood sugar

causes high levels of sugar in your body’s tissues. Bacteria thrive in areas

that have sugar and infections result because of this. The body’s defense

system is also decreased in people with diabetes. The most common places

for infection are your bladder, kidneys, vagina, gums, feet and skin. Early

treatment of infections can prevent more serious complications. The diabetic

person should treat even a small cut seriously.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that in diabetics tend to be in the

arms, legs, hands and feet. Neuropathy can feel like pins and needles,

tingling, burning, stabbing or shooting pain. A loss of sensation to touch or

temperature may also occur. Complications may result from not being able to

feel pressure or injury to the feet. Blisters and sores may go unnoticed

because diabetics are unable to feel them. Infections in the feet can get so

serious that an amputation may be necessary.

Heart and Blood Vessel Disease (or Cardiovascular Disease)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a disease of the heart and blood vessels in

which the vessels can get hardened or clogged. The diseased vessels can

lead to heart attacks and strokes. People with diabetes are four times more

likely to get cardiovascular disease than non-diabetics. This is the number

one killer of people with diabetes. Diabetes can also lead to heart failure,

peripheral arterial disease or cerebral vascular disease. A doctor or nurse can

help you prevent symptoms of CVD.

Kidney Failure

Your kidneys work as filters to clean your blood and flush out wastes. High

blood sugar and high blood pressure can damage the filters in your kidneys.

There is no cure to kidney failure. Over time, the damage to the filters may

get so bad that your kidneys may fail at doing their job. You may have to

have a special machine clean your blood for you through a process called

dialysis. Sometimes a kidney transplant may be necessary. Blood sugar

control can help prevent kidney failure.

Complications in Diabetes High blood glucose (or blood sugar) can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood

vessels, eyes, and kidneys. By keeping your blood sugar within normal ranges, you can prevent

complications of diabetes.

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Oral Health

People who have diabetes have a higher risk of getting oral infections due to

high blood sugar. Bacteria thrive in tissues that have high amounts of sugar

and can cause infections. Sometimes these infections get so bad that you

can loose your teeth. People with uncontrolled diabetes may develop

bleeding and sore gums. This can further develop into an infection called

periodontitis. If you notice red, swollen, or painful gums, it is a good idea to

see a dentist to prevent worsening oral health.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the eyes. The high amounts of sugar in

the blood damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is

the leading cause of blindness in adults. The longer you have diabetes, the

higher your risk is for developing retinopathy. Symptoms include seeing

spots or floaters in your vision, having blurred vision, having dark or empty

spots in the center of your vision or difficulty seeing well at night.

Sexual Dysfunction

People with diabetes can develop sexual problems due to damage to the

nerves and blood vessels in sexual organs. Sexual dysfunction can happen to

men and women alike. In men, erectile dysfunction, or the inability to have

an erection may occur. Men may also experience retrograde ejaculation, a

dysfunction where the semen goes into the bladder instead of ejaculated out

of the penis. Women may experience decreased sexual excitement or

inability to become aroused.

Depression

Everyone feels down once in a while. But when life seems hopeless and that

feeling won’t go away for more than two weeks, you may be experiencing

depression. The daily stress of managing diabetes may overwhelm you at

times. Or the symptoms of complications related to diabetes may become

very bothersome to you. If you start feeling depressed, talk to your doctor or

nurse about it. Counseling, antidepressants or a combination of the two may

be the solution to help you through difficult times.

Complications in DiabetesBy keeping your blood sugar within normal ranges, you can avoid long-term complications of diabetes.

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The diabetic dietTastes great!

The key to a diabetic diet is controlling

your blood sugar levels. The best way to

control blood sugar levels is by eating a

wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Another goal of a diabetic diet is

consistency. Try keeping a regular

schedule of what and when you eat by

eating meals and snacks at the same time

every day. The meals should be at four to

five hour intervals, and it is important not

to skip meals.

The most important aspect of the diabetic

diet is making proper decisions when

selecting foods. The best choices are fresh

fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These

options should be a cornerstone of your

daily meal planning and should be

accompanied by foods with less sugar,

less fat, and less salt. Foods high in sugar,

fat, and salt are leading causes in the

development of diabetes. And, these types

of foods will make a diabetic condition

worse. If buying fresh fruits and

vegetables is too expensive of an option

for you, rinse canned and frozen foods

before cooking them to reduce the salt

level.

When planning a diabetic diet, it is

important to consider the sources of

carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Carbohydrates have the greatest impact

on blood sugar levels. Including quality

carbohydrate options like whole grain

toast, apples, or corn on the cob at each

meal will help maintain proper blood sugar

levels. Simple carbohydrates increase

blood sugar. Lean proteins should be

paired with a variety of fruits and

vegetables. Fats should be limited to only

good fats like olive oil.

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Exercise Lots of opportunities right here in Pontiac!

No matter where you live in Pontiac,

you are near free or low cost outdoor

exercise opportunities. Pontiac has 14

city parks and a municipal golf

course.

Pontiac parks come in all sizes. From

small neighborhood parks, like

Richardson Park near downtown, to

large wooded parks, such as

Hawthorn Park. All parks offer

outdoor recreation possibilities

including walking, cycling, jogging, or

playing with children or

grandchildren.

Try taking a walk through Beaudette

Park. Beaudette Park is located off of

Orchard Lake Road on River Bank

Drive. Beaudette Park is home to

Dawsons Mill Pond, which is part of

the Clinton River. A relaxing stroll by

the pond is a great form of exercise.

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Another great, low cost way to make

exercise fun is playing a round of golf

at Pontiac Municipal Golf Course. The

golf course is located on Golf Drive

just 1/8 mile east of Telegraph Road.

The course offers a wonderful day

walking through wetlands, ponds,

wooded areas, and along the shore of

Crystal Lake. This municipal course

offers very low cost exercise to

Pontiac residents.

Golf offers great exercise. A round of

golf can include as much as four

miles of walking. In order to increase

the health benefit of golf, you should

walk the course while carrying or

pulling your clubs. A recent study by

the Rose Center for Health and Sports

Sciences found that a golfer who

walks a nine hole course can burn up

721 calories and 36 holes a week

Other recreational opportunities

abound in Pontiac. Walking and

jogging can occur anywhere. If you

want to keep track of the distance

you walk try the track at Wisner

Memorial Stadium. Located on Cesar

E. Chavez Avenue, just northwest of

downtown, Wisner Memorial Stadium

has a full outdoor athletic track open

to the public.

Another great opportunity is the

Clinton River Trail. The trail crosses

Pontiac as part of a 16-mile trail

network crossing several southeast

Michigan cities.

One of the best ways to add exercise

into your life is to walk your own

neighborhood. Walking where you

live does not just provide quality

exercise, but allows you to better

know your neighbors.

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Guidelines for checkupsWhen to see my doctor or nurse

In addition to eating a healthy diet and exercising

regularly, it is important to follow up with a health

care professional. Following the ABCs of Diabetes

can significantly reduce the chances of preventing

or delaying the complications of diabetes.

A: Hemoglobin A1C – This is a type of blood test

that tests your blood sugar over time. Get this

tested once a year. A good goal is to keep this

level under 7%.

B: Blood Pressure – Get your blood pressure

checked every time you go to the clinic. Your

blood pressure should be around 130/80. Talk to

your health care provider about achieving a

healthy blood pressure with medications if diet and

exercise does not reduce your blood pressure.

C: Cholesterol – Check this blood level once a year.

Your LDL or “bad” cholesterol should be less than

100. In addition to getting your blood levels

checked, it is important for you to get routine

physical examinations, eye care and foot care done

by your doctor or nurse.

Your health care provider may refer you to see a

special eye doctor called an ophthalmologist. The

ophthalmologist will assess your eyes by checking

to see how far and well you can see. You may get

special eye drops during the exam to better assess

for eye problems.

Foot care involves careful examination by a doctor

or nurse to check for any cuts, wounds or nerve

pain that accompanies diabetes.

The best way to avoid complications of diabetes is

to maintain a normal blood sugar through a proper

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Diabetes Care in Pontiac

Local resources for diabetes care, medications, & supplies

Medical & Dental Care

Diabetes Self-Care Management Program

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital

44405 Woodward Ave

Pontiac, MI 48341

248-858-6653

Oakland Primary Health Services

1701 Baldwin Road

Suite 101

Pontiac, MI 48340

248-332-6747

Gary Burnstein Community Clinic

90 West University Drive

Pontiac, MI 48342

248-758-6090

Mercy Place Clinic

55 Clinton Street

Pontiac, MI 48342

248-333-0978

Oakland County Health Division

Dental Program County Service Center

1200 North Telegraph Road, Building 36

Pontiac, MI 48341

248-858-1306

Father Pops Clinic

400 South Blvd W

Pontiac, MI 48341

248-334-2126

Health Insurance Assistance

Oakland County Dept. of Human Services

Saginaw Street District

235 N. Saginaw Pontiac MI 48342

248-975-5200

Ask about eligibility for:

Supplemental Security Income

Aged, Blind, Disabled program

MIChoice

Medicare Savings Program

Adult Medical Program

Low Income Families

Special N Support

Transitional Medical Assistance

Prescription Assistance

Mi Rx Discount Card

Call 1-800-755-6479 for application

(Then press 2, then 1)

Partnership for Prescription Assistance MI

*Must use online application at:

www.pparx.org

Diabetic Supplies

American Medical Services

825 W. Huron St.

Pontiac, MI 48341

248-332-6688

*Offers free diabetic testing supplies with

most insurance programs along with free

in-home training and support from a

diabetic specialist.

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+Remember, a proper diet, regular exercise, & routine blood sugar monitoring is key to maintaining a healthy life with

Created by:Markia Jones, BSN, RN Karishma Guha, BSN, RN