DIABETES Power over Diabetes Presented by: Regina Weitzman, MD

DIABETES Define pre-diabetes and diabetes List the risk factors associated with diabetes Recognize A1C as an indicator of diabetes control and request their A1C number from their healthcare provider at their next visit Objectives

DIABETES Pre-diabetes Sugar in the blood above the normal range Results not quite high enough to be called diabetes ( mg/dl) People WITH pre-diabetes: -have an increased risk of developing diabetes -should change their eating habits, increase their physical activity, lose weight if necessary to reduce or prevent diabetes

DIABETES A1C 6-7……… A1C 1-5……… A1C- a test to see your Bg OVER the last 3 months Rapid test is the finger prick and show you your Bg right now

DIABETES Diabetes Symptoms * may appear intoxicated or as if has dementia BUT it could be diabetic symptoms Frequent urination Constant thirst Excessive hunger Unexplained weight lose Increased fatigue and weakness Wounds that do not heal (use mirror to check feet EVERYWHERE) Lose of sensation/feeling, muscle weakness, tingling sensation Blurry vision Itchy skin Many people do not have symptoms and therefore are not diagnosed with diabetes even though they have diabetes

DIABETES Diabetes Chronic disease whose goal is to minimize complications Disease of the pancreas Body breaks down food into sugar and sends it to the bloodstream Insulin (made by pancreas) helps get the sugar form the blood into the cells to be used for energy Having too much sugar in the blood (more or equal to 126mg/dl)

DIABETES Types of Diabetes Type I: the body does not make insulin (primarily in children and adolescents) Type II: the body does not produce enough insulin or the quality of insulin is not good/does not work well Gestational: only in pregnant women and after giving birth it goes away (these women have a greater risk (40%) of developing Type II diabetes in the future and the baby as well

DIABETES Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes ADA says if you have 3 or more risk factors you should get your Bg checked! Being overweight Rarely exercise (you need to sweat during exercise) Are 45 or older Are Hispanic/Latino High blood pressure (140/90 or higher) Diabetes is a problem with the circulatory system High cholesterol Family history of diabetes Having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth or had gestational diabetes

DIABETES Complications Heart disease Stroke Vision problems (retinopathy) Kidney problems Wounds not healing Amputations due to nerve damage Dental problems Impotence Frequent infections

DIABETES Hemoglobin A1C A1C is an indicator of how well one’s diabetes is being controlled This check tells the patient their average blood glucose level for the past 2 to 3 months and provides the healthcare provider with a baseline of information of how well their diabetes is being controlled The A1C is a good indicator of what is a normal level for the patient

DIABETES A1C A1C higher than 7 indicates that your blood has too much sugar and you may need to change your treatment plan- check with your doctor Maintaining your level below 7 decreases your risk of suffering complications such as heart disease, cerebral damage, blindness, amputations, and kidney disease It is important that you work with your health team to identify your normal levels and a proper treatment plan

DIABETES Good Diabetes Care Be physically active daily Meal planning, be mindful of what and how much to eat Take diabetes pills and/or insulin as prescribed Check blood glucose levels, ask healthcare provider how often Visit healthcare provider as recommended

DIABETES Activities to better diabetes management and have a lower A1C Take medication as instructed Monitor blood glucose levels more closely and record responses to share with healthcare provider Be more active Work with healthcare provider to develop diabetes management plan Develop a healthy nutrition meal plan

DIABETES Working with healthcare provider Determine target goals for blood glucose levels and A1C Informs about new diabetes information, classes and treatments Determines if patient needs a change in treatment

DIABETES For more information... Call the American Diabetes Association at DIABETES ( ) or visit us online at diabetes.org or portufamilia.org